Harbour Station Staircases

Genoa, Italy

Harbour Station Staircases
Genoa, Italy
2001
client: Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici, Provveditorato Regionale alle Opere Pubbliche per la Liguria
architects: * with Pierluigi Feltri
photos: ©E.Caviola

structural engineering: Seteco sas
contractor: Mancini srl, FBF srl
photos: ©E.Caviola

“The symmetry of the porch and the building, the monument of Garibaldi, the movement starting from the horizontal level of the pier’s platform and slowly reaching elevation, compare with the deformed symmetry of the staircase: a well tempered monumentalism. “
Speed.
In planning. One day and one night.
In realizing. One week.
Planning and building quickly (without foundations) means becoming like Spiderman (the staircase was planned for the access of the Fantastic Eight to the former Harbour Station) and hanging on to the heroic structure of the existing porch with a braced metallic frame, whose rafters also support the staircase.
The symmetry of the porch and the building, the monument of Garibaldi, the movement starting from the horizontal level of the pier’s platform and slowly reaching elevation, compare with the deformed symmetry of the staircase: a well tempered monumentalism.
By accident the different inclinations of the rafters-braces change, moving around the staircase and penetrating them; they overlap to the well known chaos of the port. They accidentally evoke and entertain.
Accidentally.