Ideas for a new neighborhood in the old port of Venice

The project for the new “Marittima” in Venice is part of a cycle of educational experiments launched in 2016 at the Integrated Urban Planning Laboratory of the University of Udine. Its goal is to reimagine contemporary cities as systems of compact, interconnected boroughs, thus overcoming the traditional model of peripheral urban areas lacking services and centrality. Following previous studies conducted in Venice, Treviso, Udine, Trieste, and Chioggia, the 2023 project focuses on the area between Mestre and Marghera, envisioning a floating and partially nomadic district capable of seasonally shifting between workplaces and seaside tourism destinations. The “Marittima” project addresses the former central port of Venice, currently limited to cruise ships under 40,000 tons. The area—well connected through Venezia Santa Lucia station, Piazzale Roma, and Tronchetto—offers substantial transformation potential to revitalize residential presence and urban services. The proposal is articulated into three distinct zones: the western sector is dedicated to nightlife, featuring an aquarium, theaters, and entertainment venues; the central sector forms a business district inspired by the TOD (Transit Oriented Development) model, integrating managerial functions, international agencies, and public services; the eastern sector re-establishes a connection between Marittima and the Dorsoduro district through an urban park, new pedestrian bridges, and a creative hub for artists. The entire intervention promotes sustainable and compact urban development models, integrating transportation infrastructure, public spaces, and mixed-use functions. The educational effort involved the production of hundreds of architectural drawings and technical assessments, culminating in a proposal that seeks to regenerate the Venetian cityscape by merging innovation with historical continuity.