Cattolica's Sustainable Waterfront Opens After Five-Year Project

The new sustainable Lungomare Rasi Spinelli in Cattolica, Italy, was inaugurated on July 20, 2023, transforming an 800-meter stretch of coastline. Designed by Medaarch, the project won a competition in 2019 and cost €4.5 million, with over €3 million from the Emilia-Romagna region and €1.2 million from the municipal budget. The redesign eliminates structural issues like discontinuous road surfaces, adds biodiversity-friendly plants, electric mobility paths, social areas, and removes architectural barriers. Named DUNE (Deurbanization, Aesthetic and Functional Uniformity, Naturalization, Energy Efficiency), the project aims to reconnect the city with the sea and promote year-round use. Mayor Franca Foronchi noted the new way of living the space, while Medaarch CEO Amleto Picerno Ceraso emphasized the project's technological advancement and social regeneration. The project faced delays due to the pandemic, floods, and material shortages.