Claudio Raimondo Cuda

Thesis in Architectural Design

Urban redevelopment and design of the new reception center in the port area of ​​Messina

Thesis by Claudio Raimondo Cuda
Contact Email: claus.cu@hotmail.it

University of "Mediterranea" of Reggio Calabria - Faculty of Architecture
Master's Degree in EU Architecture (class 4/s)
Speaker: Prof.ssa arch. Giuseppina Foti
Co-supervisor: arch. Dario Iacono
Structural consultant: Prof. Eng. Raffaele Pucinotti
Academic Year 2011 - 2012

Urban redevelopment and project for the new reception center of the port area of ​​Messina The metropolitan area around the Strait of Messina has always played a fundamental role in the Mediterranean scenario, demonstrating a central location character, in terms of symbolic values ​​and concrete opportunities for the development of the urban aggregate. In the Strait the myth is on stage, in fact Messina of ancient maritime traditions, thanks to a port that for centuries has influenced its economic, commercial and political development takes on an absolutely strategic role, but little cared for, for this reason the intent of the project is to strengthen both the tourist port system and the related services for the city. The area concerned falls within the southern falcate zone between the port and the fabric of the historic center marked by three key axes via Giuseppe Garibaldi, via Tommaso Cannizzaro and via Giuseppe Farina, in front of the hydrofoil and fast ship terminal. The quay separating the Cruise Terminal from the Railway Terminal, approximately 145 m long, is intended to accommodate hydrofoils and fast ships for the transport of passengers, without cars in tow, headed to Calabria and the Islands and for the Metropolitana del Mare. The proximity of the Liberty-style Customs building, the Railway Station, the Extra-urban Bus Station with an important multi-storey car park, and the proximity of the tram line and numerous other urban transport lines, mean that a highly significant intermodal interchange hub for passengers is created for the entire city and for the Messina area.

The project moves in the logic of strengthening the port margin, following the current functional directives of the General Regulatory Plan (PRG), Port Regulatory Plan (PRP) and Innovative Program in the Urban Area (PIAU), with the aim of revitalizing the entire lot of the former Silos-Granary through a recovery and refunctionalization plan into a hospitality center and residences, with the total demolition of the fish market warehouses (barriers) with the exception of the former Magazzini Generali complex. The concept of the master plan aims to mend the urban fabric through a solution capable of amplifying the benefits induced by a square that represents the fulcrum around which the buildings that host the uses most linked to innovation rotate, partly paved and partly equipped with greenery with the presence of a cycle/pedestrian path flowing onto the seafront that acts as a connector with the rest of the city. The former Silos-Granary structure, built to store and sort grain loads; now in a state of degradation and potential pollution (built in 1966 with traditional construction techniques together with the Magazzini Generali) consists of buildings, sheds, and external areas, for a total surface area of ​​3.700 m1.950, of which 1.125 m625 of covered surface, over XNUMX mXNUMX of sheds and approximately XNUMX mXNUMX of free areas, falling within zone "F".

The intervention mainly consists in the dimensions and construction technology of the building, but also in the new centrality that this building will assume with respect to the developments of the port area. The shape of the complex appears as a parallelepiped with an imposing and massive appearance adjacent to the Cavallotti car park, with dimensions equal to a length of 90.25 m, a width of 18.8 m and a height of 22.2 m, with an annexed trapezoidal tower body of greater height, which stands as a symbol of the entire system. Three structural meshes, the first original 4.75 m * 4.75 m, the next 4.00 m * 4.75 m and the other 4.00 m * 4.00 m, mark a harmonic rhythm crossed by reinforced concrete pillars of 1.50 m * 1.50 m. On these meshes the entire project was recovered and redesigned through an emptying operation, maintaining only the load-bearing structure, creating a total reorganization and rationalization of the internal spaces. It privileges the theme of fragmentation over continuity on the original industrial vocation placed as a tool through which it is possible to identify, through discontinuous traits, the link between us and things. As Vittorio Gregotti wrote in his “Seventeen Letters on Architecture”, the fragment is then a working reality that arises from a premeditated interruption of the linearity of time. These broken vectors give strength not only to the building itself but to the entire context in which it is inserted, the building becomes a catalyst that radiates strength, spatiality and aesthetics, that is, it inserts itself among the existing and becomes its fulcrum. Through the reconversion to break the static pattern of the rhythmic pilasters, a broken central spine (corridor) was set up, which crosses the entire system present in plan, section and elevation. Developed on 7 levels with an inter-floor height of 2.80 and various double heights, a series of functions move. From the ground floor accessible with a central glass body, which provides full-height internal zenithal lighting, placed in the center 2 stairwells that wrap around the pillars and elevators completely in glass, act as a stitching and connection with the building itself, from here the main reception functions develop, the presence of an exhibition space and a cafeteria both at double height, the latter also open to the square in front and a conference room. Worth highlighting is a water space that becomes an integral part of the square as a connector between inside and outside. On the upper floors, the residences are arranged on the sea side for the entire length of the building for 4 levels, while on the back side only a double block; divided into three types: studio, two-room and duplex. Furthermore, as per the regulations, 2 accommodations for disabled users are foreseen according to the Ministerial Decree No. 236 1989.

The intervention is also aimed at recovering the image of the building, in fact the main facade plays a fundamental role. It was decided to install a curtain of perforated steel sheet crossed by a series of cuts that follows the horizontal profile, overlapping independently on the facade; this skin envelops the building like a new casing that from the inside allows you to see the city with new and different transparencies, until it becomes part of the roof.
The functionality of the roof is managed by the presence in some points of the photovoltaic sunshade allowing the dual function of regulating brightness and temperature inside the rooms and directly transforming solar energy into direct current electrical energy thanks to the photovoltaic effect. The building wrapped by the curtain is expressive, communicating a great austerity, an obvious renunciation of any accessory architectural element, and homogenizes everything in the most minimal forms possible so as not to interfere with the urban design also crossed by the Messina building. The new "skin" interpreted as an interface between the "inside" and the "outside", as a place of expression and meaning inseparable from the world that surrounds it and within which it changes continuously also has a dual value of ventilated wall to reduce air conditioning costs and screening to reduce noise levels outside the facade, in addition to the ability not to degrade over time and to have no need for maintenance. The rest of the facade is of the “ventilated” type, covered in composite aluminium panels and a plastic core, providing high acoustic, thermal and fire resistance.
The glass facade instead pursues the idea of ​​measure and metrics; the individual glass elements that cover it, mark a strong optical and psychological attraction pole both for the constant scanning of the modules and for the exceptional possibility of introducing a lot of light into the rooms. The facade system is connected to the ordinary structure through a dry system with metal framework with relative layer of thermal-acoustic insulation.
The horizontal load-bearing structure is also made of dry collaborating steel and concrete casting bolted by means of plates to the pillar structure. Great importance is given by the project to the aspects of eco-sustainability and technological innovation linked to the reduction of energy consumption and the use of alternative sources.