Porto Corallo Urban Design

Brief Overview

Taking cues from the landscape and people's activity, the proposal showcases a series of rhythmic experiences that alternate between solitary recreation and collective gathering. Five dense zones are proposed to reinvigorate Porto Corallo. In contrast, the spaces between these nodes are left untouched, serving as links. The proposal therefore sequentially recomposes the seafront into a series of public spaces. The interventions are minimal and respect the scale of the surrounding villages, while also allowing flexibility for future changes.

During the project various aspects were taken into consideration for a sustainable development. For example, the proposed interventions takes into consideration the local economy and different zones created by it. It later helped in deciding what kind of infrastructure could come where. I was part of the design development phase. The drawings and illustrations that have been done by Studio MADe is credited

Ideation

The overall context

Intervention, Density and Connections

A port is a place where land embraces sea. And along Porto Corallo’s meandering coastline, this happens in many unique ways. What do each of these places suggest as activities? Taking cues from the landscape, we propose a series of rhythmic experiences that alternate between solitary recreation and collective gathering. We propose five dense zones to reinvigorate Porto Corallo. In contrast, the spaces between these nodes are left untouched, serving as links.

Site Plans

Traversing along one of these stretches, the walker or bicyclist pauses when she chances upon a place of interest. Walking south from Porto Tramatzu, perhaps she finds the Sports Centre at Zone 1 to be of interest. Or she finds a moment of solitude in Zone 2, south of this. With intimate coves facing the water, the landscape here offers quiet adventure, for picnic under the trees. Further south, the walker reaches a green promenade that takes her into the heart of the camping village. Bustling with life, this place has cottages for rent, commercial spots and eateries. A defined network of streets makes it possible for tourists to easily access the Harbour, where they can find boats for rent. The intervention is minimal and draws its cues from the existing patterns of the village.

Heading further south from this commercial centre, the walker crosses over a water body to find herself in Zone 4. With the historic stone tower defining this territory, it seems fitting to call this a Cultural Ring. It defines a plaza large enough to accommodate social gatherings and offers splendid views of the landscape. Water-based activities like snorkeling and fishing are ideal along this stretch of the coastline. The activities happening at the Commercial Zone 3 and the Cultural Zone 4 benefit from one another, helping to re-invigorate the site. Gradually, the walker reaches Zone 5, where a series of minimal interventions like temporary shacks and beach decks allow for informal activities to crop up along the long stretch of Porto Corallo beach.

Our proposal therefore sequentially recomposes the seafront into a series of public spaces. The interventions are minimal and respect the scale of the surrounding villages, while also allowing flexibility for future changes. To breathe life into the waterfront, a series of recreational and cultural activities have been proposed. We imagine that a reinvigorated promenade would encourage people to linger, to sit in solitude and to socialise.

Sectional details of various zones

Zone 1- North Beach

Zone 2- Water facing park

Zone 3- Harbour

Zone 4- Stone Coast

Zone 5- South Beach

Illustrations(copyright- Studio MADe)

Birds eye view of the over intervention with the port in the foreground

The old towerhouse became the center of the circular wooden walkway

Message

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