Genoa, the next Milan by the sea?
After 20 years of redevelopment with innovative and ecological developments such as the Vertical Forest, Milan’s new renaissance is placing this fashionable city on the global stage with other primary European capitals.
While Milan’s rebirth and growth can be viewed as an alignment with Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) aimed at boosting the Italian economy, as well as the welcomed influx of finance industry professionals after Brexit, we shift our gaze to the Ligurian seaside city of Genoa.
Genoa is the largest and busiest seaport in Italy, competing with the seaports of Marseille and Barcelona. The port of Genoa brings in 51.6 million tons of trade volume and has the distinct advantage of being a central hub in Italy close to one of the richest, most productive, and innovative regional areas in Europe.
It is then no surprise that a new green project by famed Genoa architect Renzo Piano is on the way to completely transform the 115,000 square meters fair area into an urban Waterfront.
The new Waterfront green feature Parco della Foce, will have over 4000 trees planted serving as a 65,000 square meter ecological green lung. The eco-sustainable project will follow a renewable sources strategy Nearly Zero Energy Building and will include new residences, offices, student residences, retail, apart-hotels, and a palasport.
With such a transformative urban investment and regeneration (besides the transformation of the old harbor into a suggestive leisure area) and paired with the new high-speed train lines traveling to Milan in 50 mintues, could Genoa become the Ligurian seaside version of Milan?
Perhaps not quite as cosmopolitan as Milan, but for the attractiveness of the second home market on the Ligurian coast, it could prove otherwise.