Salerno Maritime Terminal

Inaugurated on 25 April 2016, the new Salerno Maritime Terminal by Zaha Hadid Architects is integral to the 1993 city’s urban plan for Salerno which targeted the development of essential projects and programs for the social, economic and environmental regeneration of the city. As part of the 1993 plan, Zaha Hadid Architects won the international competition in 2000 to design the new terminal.

Located on the public quay that extends into Salerno’s working harbor and marina, the new maritime terminal continues 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.
Like an oyster, the terminal’s hard, asymmetric shell protects the softer elements within; sheltering passengers from the intense Mediterranean sun during the popular tourist season.
The new maritime terminal is composed of three primary interlocking components: administration offices for national border controls and shipping lines; the terminal for international ferries and cruise ships from around the world; and the terminal for the local and regional ferries. The quayside gently rises as passengers approach the terminal from the city, indicating the gradually sloping path of ramps within the building which raise passengers to the embarking level of large ships and ferries. The terminal’s interior arrangement orientates and leads passengers through a sequence of interior spaces that flow into each other and are organized around focal points such as the restaurant and the waiting lounge.

At night, the glow of the terminal near the harbour entrance will act as a lighthouse to the port, welcoming visitors to the city. The new terminal operates, both functionally and visually, as a smooth transition between land and sea; a coastal land formation that mediates between solid and liquid. From its terraces and windows, the terminal offers spectacular views of the Amalfi Coast, the Gulf of Salerno and the Cilento. Positano, Capri, Paestum and Pompei are also nearby. The new terminal will greatly improve the accessibility and experience for visitors to the region’s renowned cultural attractions, coastline and countryside. The new Salerno Maritime Terminal will enable the port of Salerno to increase arrivals of ferry and cruise ships by 500,000 additional passengers each year.

Client: Comune di Salerno
Design: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA)
ZHA Project Architect Paola Cattarin
ZHA Design Team Vincenzo Barilari, Andrea Parenti, Anja Simons, Giovanna Sylos Labini, Cedric Libert, Filippo Innocenti, Paolo Zilli, Lorenzo Grifantini, Electra Mikelides, Eric Tong
ZHA Competition Team Paola Cattarin, Sonia Villaseca, Christos Passas, Chris Dopheide Design Consultants
Program: Maritime terminal for local, regional and international ferries, and cruise liners from around the world
Main Contractor: Passarelli SpA
Structural Engineers: Ingeco, Ove Arup & Partners
M&E Engineers: Macchiaroli and Partners, Itaca srl, Ove Arup & Partners
Maritime/Transport Engineers: Ove Arup & Partners
Lighting: Equation Lighting Design
Total site area: 4.600 mq
Floors: 3 (1 below ground)
Maximum height: 13.5 m
Maximum length: 97 m
Completion: 2016