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Salerno Maritime Terminus by Zaha Hadid Architects opened in Italy

16 years in the making

Salerno Maritime Terminus by Zaha Hadid Architects opened in Italy

The Salerno Maritime Terminal in south west Italy has been inaugurated by the Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi. The building, which has been in the making for 16 years, is the first to be opened since Zaha Hadid’s passing at the end of March earlier this year.

As part of a city-wide regeneration plan initiated in 1993, the terminus won an international competition in 2000. Situated on a public quay that continues into the marina, the building aims to continue “the city’s relationship with the sea and establishes new links; connecting Salerno’s rich maritime traditions with its historic urban fabric and beyond to the hills that frame the city.”

Bearing the resemblance of an oyster, an asymmetric shell forms the roof and offers a much needed shaded area during the summer months. Come nightfall, the terminal is illuminated via an accent-lit concrete soffit running around the building’s perimeter.

Underneath, administration offices for national border controls and shipping lines, as well as a restaurant and passenger waiting areas, are housed. Interior orientation ensures the swift circulation of passengers through waiting lounges, check-in, passport, security and customs controls to their ship.

As a result, 500,000 extra passengers will be able to pass through the port each year, meaning more ferry and cruise ships could dock. This, Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) argues, “could create up to 2,000 new jobs in the city’s hospitality, services and retail sectors.”

Due to its location, the terminal offers views of both sides of the famed Amalfi Coast, the Gulf of Salerno, and Cilento World Heritage Site. ZHA also hopes it “will act as a lighthouse to the port, welcoming visitors to the city.”

When opening the terminal, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi paid tribute to the late Zaha Hadid. “This extraordinary work adds to everything Salerno is doing to transform itself and I think it is marvelous,” Renzi said. “It is also a way of remembering the great architect that Zaha Hadid was.”

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