Enhancing to re-integrate: the regeneration of Castellammare di Stabia's historical and cultural heritage for the development of port-city dialogue

Abstract

The relationship between ports and cities has never been something fixed, but rather a constantly evolving process shaped by developments in industrial processes and the maritime transport sector. Ports and cities grow at different speeds: the former at a faster pace, the latter relatively more slowly.
This phenomenon is most evident in the areas of interaction between port and city, where the needs of port cluster stakeholders and urban actors tend to diverge. This calls for a reorganization of the relationship between port and urban functions, through the planning and design of new spaces and services that simultaneously enhance port performance and urban development, while also promoting the historical and cultural heritage.
Based on this, the study proposes a methodology to support Port System Authorities in strategic planning, through the recovery of architectural heritage and spaces within port-city interface areas. The research, applied to the port city of Castellammare di Stabia (NA), has shown how this approach can help transform port-city interface areas into shared spaces, facilitating a shift from the juxtaposition of spaces and areas to their integration.
The goal is to provide urban and port planners with innovative tools for knowledge, analysis, and decision-making support, capable of guiding the evaluation and planning of interventions with a view to sustainability and integrated development.