Studio Professionisti Associati | New fair complex of Sardinia

in Concept & Competition by editor — 8:48 pm | February 29, 20120 comments

The city of Cagliari is drawing new scenarios, after centuries of mistrust of the sea, recapturing the places and customs of a seafaring town. Only recently a new attention has been focused on a general definition of Cagliari waterfront, in which the Fair of Sardinia will play a main role. It was considered that an exhibition area able to accommodate different and complex events can not be configured as a series of pavilions, but it requires the inclusion of different exhibition spaces into a single artifact, which has a large area for outdoor exhibitions, sports and entertainment.

The proximity to the sea, makes spontaneous to think the boating and the related activities, as the natural vocation of the Fair. This aspect opens a discussion on the relationship with the sea area, solved with the opening of a channel that connects it with the city harbour, making it available for exhibitions, but also for recreational mooring.Perpendicular to the channel, the large exhibition building, which incorporates the historic hangar, sews perceptually the urban front to the sea, currently fragmented, composing a single image.

Great importance has been given to the congressional activity. The new congress hall, is integrated to the existing, now inadequate, and is configured as a complex and multiplex system.
The project includes an hotel at the entrance of the Fair on the Marco Polo square, in synergy with the conference activities, the exhibition area, and sailing. The path connecting the waterfront continues inside the Fairground along the new channel and changes its direction in close proximity of the hotel.