Reggio Calabria, the Museo del Mare is underway. A ray of light on the Strait designed by Zaha Hadid

Today the first stone was laid, in the construction site of the eastern pier of the port of Reggio Calabria , for the nascent sea museum of Reggio Calabria. Designed by the Anglo-Iraqi star architect Zaha Hadid , it is currently known, in fact, as the Sea Museum or as the “Centre for Mediterranean Culture ”. As the mayor of the city on the peninsular shore of the Strait explained today, both definitions are valid, but the name has yet to be decided.

"This work contains the entire future of our Reggio, because this is truly an investment that will contribute to changing the face of our city," said Mayor Giuseppe Falcomatà , who today, together with architect Filippo Innocenti of Studio Hadid, unveiled the first stone, laid with the opening of the construction site. Already at the end of the ceremony, bulldozers began demolishing some buildings in the area.

Mayor: “Investment in our future”

"It is an investment in culture, which is our wealth, together with our sea. An investment in tourism, which is our future - Falcomatà continued - because this can really become one of the main tourist attractions, not only in Italy, but in the Mediterranean, and goes exactly in the direction of our city's candidacy as the Italian capital of culture".

Recalling that the idea was born during Giuseppe Scopelliti 's mandate, the mayor retraced the stages of the project: "We were accused of having de-financed the work. In reality, we made this project safe because the resources of the Reggio decree did not guarantee the possibility of being able to realize it. We financed it with one of the 14 flagship projects wanted by the ( former ) minister Franceschini and we added a further part, about half of the necessary funds within the programming of European funds 2021-2027 for a total of 121 million euros ."

Architect Innocenti illustrated the characteristics of the work, an architectural icon that will extend over 24 thousand square meters in the natural termination of the seaside promenade of Reggio Calabria. "A project that over the years has had to adapt to new regulations. It is a more mature project - Innocenti stated - because it responds to the most advanced environmental criteria".

Inside the structure there will be a 4,500 m2 aquarium , 7,000 m2 of museum spaces and a very modern auditorium with a flexible and articulated structure that can be adapted to every need. All surrounded by a garden with over seventy species of Mediterranean plants.

"I - said Vito Barozzi, owner of the company Cobar Spa, responsible for the construction - define this work as contemporary architectural art, because the building is of a unique beauty that will redevelop the territory and above all will become a museum of itself, like many other works by Hadid. We are very ready as a company. We already have construction sites open and an anti-racket agreement already signed with Ance (National Association of Building Contractors). We will start with the air remediation, demolitions and the sea cliff to delimit the surface on which the new museum will be built. By May-June we will start with the main lot to arrive at the delivery within the expected times ( 2028 ed. )"