Foster On The Waterfront

Globally renowned architects Foster + Partners have lifted the lid on proposals for a new waterfront development in Rimini, Italy.

The plans which were revealed at a public presentation to the city have been specially designed to improve the currently under-utilised link between the town centre and the seafront and to create a year-round attraction for the city's tourist industry.

If approved by the local authorities, the project will comprise of a new seafront promenade and an impressively long 300 metre pier which will extend out into the Adiatic sea.

Rounding off the scheme and creating a vertical landmark will be a luxury hotel situated in a tower with 27 storeys standing above two double height ground floors and linked into the surrounding area by raised walk ways.

Rising from a canopied base that flairs outrageously out, the tower is quite globular in appearance, it is constructed from steel and glazed. Its shape is accentuated by curving balconies and also by vertical exposed beams which curve in the same manner as wood grain texturing the sides and adding a skin-like texture to what could be a huge worm. Behind the projecting frame is the recessed glazing, protected from solar gain by the natural shade.

Inside the fun stuff like spas and gyms will be found but also for those interested in Italian film history at the base will be space for a museum dedicated to the quadruple Oscar winning director Federico Fellini.

Fellini was born in the city in 1920 and famously went on to direct two of the most well-known pieces of cinema, La dolce vita and La Strada. Much of his work drew from his experiences growing up in and around Rimini combining his memories with a mix of fictionalism to create a neo-realistic approach that continues to be popular today.

The tower will use the latest in environmentally cuddly technology such as rainwater collection and photovoltaic panels in order to make as little impact on the area as possible, something in the forefront of any architects minds these days when they try to position their product.

In keeping with Rimini's tradition of green boulevards, the waterfront will be pedestrianised at certain times and will link directly to a linear public park which will not only be a nice spot to picnic in but also provide shading from the heat of the sun during the summer months.

Still at proposal stage, the scheme currently has no construction dates but Rimini will be eagre to give the go-ahead to what they hope will be an iconic building designed by one of the world's leading starchitects.