Honoring reggio Calabria’s Rich Cultural Legacy

Construction of Reggio Calabria’s upcoming Centre of Mediterranean Culture is officially underway, its monumental architecture envisioned by Zaha Hadid Architects as a museum and cultural gathering space for the southern Italian region. As Reggio Calabria’s Mayor, Giuseppe Falcomatà, and ZHA director Filippo Innocenti lay the foundation stone, the moment marks a significant milestone in the project, which promises to transform the city’s cultural landscape.

zaha hadid architects breaks ground on centre for mediterranean culture in calabria, italy

ZHA has designed the ambitious building to be located in the historically strategic city of Reggio Calabria, which sits on the Strait of Messina in southern Italy. The city has long served as a gateway between the eastern and western Mediterranean, connecting the Italian mainland with Sicily and standing at the crossroads of trade routes and marine ecosystems.

interior Spaces Reflect Calabria’s Marine Life

Zaha Hadid Architects envisions the Centre of Mediterranean Culture as a major civic and cultural gathering space for Reggio Calabria. The design reconnects the working port to the city, making it an integral part of the public realm. It will host various events, exhibitions, and forums, all while showcasing the relationship between humanity and the sea from a local, Calabrian perspective.

At 24,000 square meters, ZHA’s center will be a significant addition to Calabria’s cultural infrastructure. Zaha Hadid Architects’ design includes permanent and temporary exhibition galleries, an aquarium, multifunctional conference facilities, an auditorium, and educational spaces for local schools. It will also feature leisure amenities such as a bookshop and restaurant, enhancing the visitor experience.

Interiors are influenced by Calabria’s marine environment, reflecting the region’s biodiversity. Zaha Hadid Architects incorporates colors and forms inspired by marine life, especially in the auditorium, where coral hues evoke the vitality of the Mediterranean Sea. The aquarium’s fluid interior spaces create an immersive experience that brings Calabria’s rich marine ecosystem to life.

The architects make use of advanced computer simulation modeling to determine the building’s architectural composition, which balances public courtyards and architectural volumes. This way, the architecture will shelter visitors from the intense sunlight and prevailing winds characteristic of Calabria’s climate. Each courtyard offers views of the port, city, or a panoramic terrace overlooking the Strait of Messina.

Zaha Hadid Architects incorporates sustainability strategies that respond to Calabria’s climate and environmental conditions. The center’s design mitigates summer heat and wind through its architectural composition, while a 90% opaque facade with marine-grade anodized aluminum panels minimizes solar heat gain and cooling demand. These panels, sourced locally, reduce energy consumption and maintenance, aligning with long-term sustainability goals.

The team’s commitment to sustainability extends to the surrounding landscape, which will feature a Mediterranean maquis with sixty native plant varieties. This landscape design will enhance local biodiversity while minimizing water usage, with rainwater captured on-site to support irrigation and building requirements, demonstrating a holistic approach to resource management.