Redevelopment of Cagliari Port
The project is part of a broader redevelopment initiative for the port, structured around three main areas: the reorganization of public spaces, the redesign of maritime berths, and the construction of the new Service Center on the Molo Sanità pier. The design proposal enhances the existing features of the port space, harmoniously integrating with the materials and color schemes of the pavements on Via Roma and Piazza della Darsena.
The new layout includes three vehicular lanes, side parking areas, and a dedicated bike lane, flanked by a large green pedestrian area of approximately 4,600 square meters. This space is shaped into gentle hills, traversed by a continuous WPC pathway enriched with rest areas, shading canopies, and relaxation spaces.
At the heart of the pedestrian zone, a new limestone-paved square hosts a reflecting fountain, while a second body of water enlivens the Calata Azuni quay. The intervention is completed with essential urban furnishings and a three-level lighting system integrated into the lighting towers.
To serve the promenade, a service center is planned, consisting of two lightweight volumes in WPC and glass, intended for commercial and hospitality functions. The building extends over four above-ground floors and one basement level.
The basement houses technical rooms, cellars, and water storage facilities, while the fully glazed ground floor accommodates public functions: an entrance hall with natural light intake, welcome and service areas for nautical activities, reception, changing rooms, luggage storage, a flexible multipurpose room, and a bar lounge.
The two upper floors are dedicated to the accommodation facility, featuring 36 rooms of various types, all equipped with private terraces screened by brise-soleil. The rooms, arranged around the central core with vertical connections and light wells, offer privileged views of the city and the sea.
The rooftop level completes the project with a wellness area that includes a spa, gym, panoramic infinity pool, and outdoor solarium. The rooftop also hosts a glazed restaurant with three open sides and a panoramic terrace, ensuring a close visual connection with both the sea and the city.
From an architectural standpoint, the Service Center stands out for the lightness and transparency of its façades, characterized by the extensive use of glass surfaces, horizontal aluminum belt courses, and projecting balconies. Perforated panels made of recycled aluminum, used for the stairwells, contribute to shadow play and transparency, emphasizing the dynamic nature of the whole.
Crowning the building is a suspended canopy inspired by the shape of a sail, perforated with patterns drawn from local textile traditions. This element enhances the architectural identity of the project, serving as a distinctive marker visible from both land and sea.
The project represents a synthesis of technological innovation, architectural quality, and the enhancement of local traditions, establishing itself as a new landmark on the waterfront.
Project Financing Procedure
Awarded consortium: A.T.I. Marina di Porto Rotondo s.r.l., Impresa Pellegrini s.r.l., Ar.Gi.S. srls - Arch. Gottardo Virdis - Studio Professionisti Associati srl - Cosin srl
Project team: Arch. Giampaolo Lai, Arch. Jacopo Moret, Eng. Maria Laura Orrù, Arch. Stefano Lecca, Dr. Michele Setti
Structural engineering: Secured Solutions srl
Port works: Eng. Andrea Ritossa
Fire Certification (C.P.I.): Eng. Valter Selleri
Geologist: Dott. Mauro Pompei
Archaeologist: Dott.ssa A.Luisa Sanna
Economic feasibility study: IPSE Srl
Legal consultancy: Studio Legale Ballero & Associati
Client: Autorità di Sistema Portuale del Mare di Sardegna
Cost: € 28.600.000
Project date: 2018-2024
Construction: in progress
