Zaha Hadid Architects has unveiled design for a new masterplan, featuring a pair of fluid towers in eastern Naples, Italy. 

Called Napoli Porta Est Masterplan, the two towers, combined with the volume of sub-programs they contain, blend in with the landscape and create a new public park, opening up the railway stations for use.

The lower level of the Regional Headquarters will include public amenities - including a conference center, cinema, and commercial spaces, while the upper towers will serve as the Regional Government Offices. 

Image © Brick Visual

Additionally, the project will feature a new regional rail station, a residential development, and a pedestrian bridge that connects to the existing Centro Direzionale (CBD), enhancing accessibility and promoting urban cohesion.

The project includes the eastern parts of Naples that have been particularly affected by the decommissioning of its heavy industries over the past few decades. Zaha Hadid Architects' main goal is to reconnect the city's fragmented urban fabric. 

Through the introduction of adaptable infrastructure, the development of a new urban park, and the repurposing of the abandoned railway yards for public use, the project promotes the resilient and sustainable urban transformation of the city's abandoned industrial area.

ZHA's design creates the possibility of reestablishing a connection between the city's east and the historic center of Naples by relieving the heavy traffic at one of the city's main interchanges, which acts as a gateway to the Italian national transportation network.

Image © Brick Visual

The project allows the more than 30 hectares of abandoned industrial structures, including the former Manifattura Tabacchi factory and other derelict buildings in the Feltrinelli industrial zone, to be converted for city dwellers' use by removing the barrier caused by the redundant railyards.

By allowing the eventual conversion of an additional 100+ hectares of the district's defunct Q8 oil depot into a new city quarter with civic spaces and services for its local community, ZHA's proposal also presents the city with further prospects.

The site in question is a former maintenance railyard located at the eastern edge of Naples, which has been abandoned for decades. It is now set to become one of Europe’s largest urban regeneration projects, encompassing over 15 hectares of land, comparable to the King Cross development in London. 

Image © Brick Visual

The design scheme will transform more than 10 hectares into landscaped gardens and urban parks, designed in collaboration with Martha Schwartz, featuring trees native to the region. According to ZHA, the overall masterplan aims to reconnect various fragmented areas of Naples, including the Centro Direzionale, the station, the Mercato, and the Oriental Zone, while prioritizing pedestrian access and integrating a multi-modal transport interchange below ground.

Furthermore, the new development will adhere to Naples' established urban plan to foster a sustainable future for the city as a civic, cultural, economic, and transport hub for southern Italy. 

The initiative focuses on enhancing urban green spaces in the city through the development of public gardens and a large park. It envisions improved pedestrian connections from key areas like Porta Nolana to the Central Station and the new park, integrating walking pathways to vital locations such as the Centro Direzionale and its New Metro Station. The design emphasizes accessibility, creating an inclusive civic hub that welcomes all residents and visitors.

Image © Felix Render

The architectural design prioritizes energy efficiency with a compact tower structure that maximizes green public spaces. It intelligently uses natural elements like light, wind, and views to enhance thermal insulation while minimizing glare. The façade is designed to optimize natural light by adjusting the positioning of openings according to the sun's movement, which reduces the need for artificial lighting. Spectrally selective glazing is employed to mitigate solar heat and glare, further achieving energy efficiency in interior environments.

Sustainability and safety are core aspects of the project, featuring high seismic performance and compliance with resource management standards. Using a hybrid construction system with local materials ensures better cost control and flexibility throughout the building process. The construction will be conducted in phases to allow parts of the space to be utilized immediately, while the new headquarters will blend seamlessly with landscaped areas, creating a dynamic hub that reconnects urban living with nature.

The development project aims to create a pedestrianized neighborhood that reconnects local communities and businesses with the historic center, which is currently isolated from the city’s urban fabric. By prioritizing walkability and community interaction, the design emphasizes the importance of integrating local culture and commerce into the urban landscape.

Image © Zaha Hadid Architects

To promote sustainability and environmental resilience, the plan incorporates a biodiverse landscape featuring extensive vegetation. This not only helps mitigate flood risks but also contributes to a more comfortable microclimate for residents. The project includes a significant 7,000 square meters photovoltaic system to harness solar energy and plans to utilize recycled water for maintaining the greenery, targeting a 60% reduction in potable water consumption.

Further enhancing its sustainability goals, the project aims for a Class A Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB) rating and will pursue LEED Platinum certification for its towers. 

Image © Zaha Hadid Architects

The bioclimatic façade design, which reduces glass surfaces, allows for self-shading and natural ventilation, while the lightweight structure will help minimize embodied carbon. Additionally, 'sponge city' concepts will be implemented in public spaces to absorb excess rainfall, thereby reducing flooding and mitigating urban heat island effects through passive design strategies.

Zaha Hadid Architects began construction on the Centre Of Mediterranean Culture In Italy. In addition,the firm completed the restoration and renovation of the 16th century historic Roman Palazzo into Hotel Romeo Roma in Italy. In addition, the firm created material-rich showroom interiors for Marisfrolg Fashion Group in Shenzhen, China. 

Project facts

Project credits: Zaha Hadid Architects (Architecture and Masterplanning)
Responsible Director: Michele Pasca di Magliano
Director (rail & TOD): Filippo Innocenti
Design Director: Maria Tsironi
Project Associates: Andrea Balducci Caste, Cristina Barrios Cabrera, Domenico Di Francesco, Torsten Broeder, Vincenzo Barilari
Design Team: Bechara Malkoun, Cemre Demirci, Cherry Lee, Ghanem Younes, Hanadi Izzuddin, Haoyue Zhang, HyunJin Kim, Irfan Bhakrani, Martina Rosati, Olivia Dolan, Sera Su Abac, Yaseen Bhatti, Jing Xu
Workplace Analitics: Uli Blum, Lorena Espaillat Bencosme, Danial Haziq Hamdan, Christoph Geiger
Sustainability: Abhilash Menon, Aditya Ambare, Bahaa Alnassrallah, Disha Shett
Acquisitions: Marcella Fedele

Consultants
Local Architect: Barracco Smith
Structural and Civil Engineering: Interpogetti SRL
M&E Engineering: Macchiaroli & Partners
Landscape Design: Martha Schwartz Partners
Artist and Lighting Design: Jason Bruges Studio
Cost Consultant: BC Consulting
Traffic and Urban Mobility: MiC-HUB
Safety in construction: Gianni Artuso
Archeologo: Viviana Mancusi
Economista: Prof. Massimo Marrelli

The top rendering in the article © Brick Visual. 

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