After the 2018 sea storm destroyed it, Rapallo once again has its Porto Carlo Riva. The Porto ‘Carlo Riva’ redevelopment project, coordinated by the Bizzi & Partners group, has brought Rapallo’s marina back to the centre of the Gulf of Tigullio, after the damage caused by the 2018 sea storm. The initiative was not limited to the reconstruction of the breakwaters and marine and land works, but aimed to create a state-of-the-art, safe and sustainable port designed to meet the future challenges of boating and the surrounding area.
The works included the refurbishment of the jetties, the renovation of the shore facilities and the creation of commercial spaces and restaurants dedicated to the nautical sector, with modern services such as on-board delivery for yachtsmen. The aim was to create one of the most advanced and well-integrated ports in the Mediterranean, capable of meeting the needs of yachtsmen, citizens and international tourists.
One of the distinctive features of the new port is the iconic building of La Torretta, home of O’Magazin al Porto, the third business opened by the Mussini family from Portofino in the Gulf of Tigullio, operational from August 2024, offering ice-cream parlour, American bar and restaurant services. The architectural design was by Tectoo, while the construction was carried out by Savarese Costruzioni e Sales.
The defence works, including an imposing 7-metre high breakwater wall, were completed at the end of 2022, offering protection that exceeds legal standards.
Bizzi & Partners has transformed the Port of Rapallo into a centre of excellence for the boating industry, with a wide range of high-quality services, a Clubhouse, and prestigious retail and food & beverage spaces, positioning it as a reference point for yachtsmen and superyachts.
We interviewed architect Susanna Scarabicchi of the Tectoo studio, which oversaw the redevelopment, to find out more about the project.
The project for the redevelopment of Porto Carlo Riva had to come to terms with the existing: the heavy legacy of the 2018 sea storm. How did this event affect the project and what were the biggest challenges in dealing with it?
First of all the timing, there was a considerable urgency in the construction of the breakwater, which not only protects the port but also the fabric of the city. We moved about 220 tonnes of material to then build what cannot actually be seen, because only the breakwater is visible. More than 90 companies were involved, working practically simultaneously in an area that we designed with impressive defence works, well above the standard required by law.
We saw that a lot of importance was given to the outdoor spaces of the buildings, with the terraces and balconies, both in the central pier building and the Club House building. This seems to me to be an invitation to really experience the spaces of the port and not just consider it a place of passage. Is that so?
We have recovered the volumes of the existing buildings with the intention of creating a space that is accessible to everyone and open to the city; among other things, it is one of the few marinas to have paths for the visually impaired in the entire port.
The Torretta, on the other hand, was demolished and rebuilt because the spaces were not accessible and did not meet safety standards. The desire, architecturally speaking, was to make the perception of the water space from the fabric of the city and vice versa, which is why it was designed as transparent in a north-south direction. When the port is 100 per cent operational, there will be a clubhouse with services, both for those passing through the port and for the people of the city. In general, we envisaged the creation of spaces accessible to everyone that can be used for events, markets and other activities. These spaces were not there before, while with our project we have tried to encourage pedestrian use of the Carlo Riva Port as well.
Finally, you have also revised the parking area
That’s right, before the access road was a one-way street, and the storage spaces, for example for sailing equipment, were not the best, especially because of the humidity. Not all the spaces have been reconstructed, but a continuous pedestrian path and a two-way road for cars has been created along the seawall, with four to five parking areas to stop and benches to sit on. The car park has not been extended, but the areas have been changed with the intention of reclaiming a new storage area here. The car parks, however, are now better connected, with a lift and stairs in the middle of the car park, from which you can get about halfway down the shopping promenade.
Let’s look at some numbers: 113,535 m² – The concession area of the area; 70 million approx. – The total amount of the reconstruction work on the Port; 7 metres – The height of the wall of the new breakwater above sea level; 1,600 – The tetrapods of 20 tonnes each of the new breakwater; 200. 000 – The tons of reefs used for the new seawall; 50 – The total number of berths; 60 metres – The maximum length of boats that can be accommodated; 200 approx. – The number of employees employed at full capacity in the port; 80% approx. – The port’s water requirements met with the return water from the city’s sewage treatment plant.
