Its about Pizzazz
Then move to the Mediterranean. You have to hand it to the Italians. They know all about pizzazz – or is it brio ? that boldness, vigour, style and flamboyance. Whilst polite but pedestrian port execs elsewhere in Europe are doggedly struggling through the turgid swamp of directives, decrees, dictates and derogations, our Italian brothers and sisters are squabbling in public over that perfectly legitimate, though very Italian question: what should our ports actually look like?
As reported (PS Jan/Feb 2005 p.12), Genoa had intended to revise its ? 4bn port masterplan to incorporate leading architect Renzo Piano?s Fresco of the Port of Genoa concept which envisaged transforming the coastline from Voltri into the city. The programme would have taken 18 years to complete but it was claimed that no detrimental effect to daily port operations would be suffered. That was in January. Since then, little if anything, has gone to plan.
A bitter struggle for control of the sixth module of the Voltri container terminal was won by PSA with the support of the Grand Alliance (PS May 2005 p.12) but Contship, who lost out, is threatening a legal challenge; and if that wasn’t enough, Piano pulled out of the Fresco project and an acrimonious row erupted within the port authority.
Meanwhile, as if not to be outdone by its big brother, Trieste has appointed Sir Norman Foster to remodel its historic seafront. This project is part of Trieste?s ongoing efforts to recover the splendour it enjoyed when it was one of the treasures of the Hapsburg Empire.
The city commissioned Foster’s studio to prepare the renovation masterplan for its vast Porto Vecchio (old port). The aim is to put it among the world?s most charming, evocative historic harbours.
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