The Port of Palermo is undergoing a rapid transformation, shifting from an industrial hub to a thriving tourist destination, seamlessly integrating with the city through a lively waterfront. This transformation necessitates a sparkling urban catalyst with the opening of a new hotel and congress center.

Located in proximity to the restored ancient bastions, and the new waterfront park, the site is characterized by two industrial buildings and a large parking lot. By demolishing the front building and reusing the large concrete storage, the masterplan envisions to restore urban permeability and generate a central urban piazza, connected with the waterfront and contaminated by the adjacent park with an organic system of green and blue open spaces.

The architecture dynamically expresses the Mediterranean roots and the maritime nature of this new urban destination. The interplay of light and shadows, the vibrant colors, and the materiality of both facades and interiors, coupled with the introduction of green patios, reinterprets the architecture of Palermo’s historic city center.

Overhangs and fins shaping the facades regulate incident solar radiation, particularly crucial during the hottest months. Green patios and water bodies encourage natural ventilation, enhanced by evaporative cooling. Large roofs adorned with photovoltaics maximize local power generation. Additionally, a system of heat pumps establishes a constant heat exchange with seawater, significantly reducing energy consumption.