Salerno Maritime Terminal by Zaha Hadid Architects Opens April 25

After years of delays and cost overruns, the Zaha Hadid-designed Stazione Marittima in Salerno is set to inaugurate on April 25, 2016. The project, conceived by Zaha Hadid Architects and directed by Patrik Schumacher following Hadid's death on March 31, 2016, was originally won in an international competition in 2000 when Vincenzo De Luca was mayor. The terminal, nicknamed "l'ostrica" (the oyster), occupies a section of Molo Manfredi, which was extended by 180 meters for cruise traffic. Construction faced multiple setbacks due to new regulations and contractor changes; costs rose from an initial €12.1 million in 2005 to €20 million by October 2015. The two-level structure features a sinuous ceramic-tiled roof intended to evoke the region's majolica domes, and includes waiting areas, food services, administrative offices, and a ramp system for passengers. The terminal is designed as a new urban landmark adjacent to Piazza della Libertà, aiming to boost cruise tourism by leveraging Salerno's central position between the Amalfi and Cilento coasts, the Parthenopean Islands, and the archaeological sites of Paestum and Pompeii.