“Il Faro” of East Naples: A Project that redefines the Metropolis
in ARCHITETTURA | architecture
© BrickVisual I Napoli Porta Est Masterplan.
Napoli Porta Est is an ambitious urban regeneration project designed by the London-based studio Zaha Hadid Architects, conceived to transform a former industrial area in the eastern part of Naples into a sustainable and integrated district with the ambition of realizing buildings to Class A NZEB (Nearly Zero Energy Building) energy standards. Winner of an international competition promoted by the Campania Region in collaboration with the Municipality of Naples, the masterplan envisages the redevelopment of a former abandoned railway depot, transforming it into a vibrant neighborhood equipped with new services and public spaces. The intervention aims to reconnect the area with the historic city center and improve urban mobility, alleviating traffic congestion. Furthermore, the project includes the construction of the new headquarters for the Campania Region, named Il Faro (The Lighthouse).
The initiative focuses on the eastern areas of Naples, which have been severely affected by the decline of heavy industries in recent decades. Through an innovative approach, the program promotes a resilient and sustainable urban transformation, introducing adaptable infrastructure, a vast urban park, and the redevelopment of disused railway yards, making them accessible to the community. One of the key aspects of the project is addressing the severe traffic congestion in a strategic city hub, a gateway to the national transport network. ZHA’s proposal aims to reconnect East Naples with the historic center, eliminating the physical barrier created by abandoned railway yards. The plan also includes the redevelopment of over 30 hectares of abandoned industrial buildings, including the former Manifattura Tabacchi factory and other complexes in the Feltrinelli area, returning them to the city and its inhabitants. Looking ahead, the project offers further development opportunities, with the potential to transform more than 100 hectares of the former Q8 oil depot into a new urban neighborhood equipped with civic spaces and services for the local community. This ambitious proposal redefines the identity of Eastern Naples, projecting it towards a dynamic and sustainable future.
© BrickVisual I Napoli Porta Est Masterplan.
With an area of 15 hectares, the Napoli Porta Est Masterplan is one of the largest urban regeneration projects in Europe, comparable in scale to King’s Cross in London. Over 10 hectares are being redeveloped into landscaped gardens and plazas, designed in collaboration with Martha Schwartz (an American landscape architect), and into an urban park with native trees. This urban plan reconnects previously isolated areas (Centro Direzionale, the Central Station, the Market, and the Eastern Zone), promoting pedestrian mobility and an efficient underground multimodal transport hub. Furthermore, by integrating with Naples’ consolidated urban plan, the project supports a future vision of the city as a civic, cultural, economic, and transportation center for Southern Italy, harmonizing new volumes with the existing urban fabric.
The new Regional Headquarters will house the Government Offices of the Campania Region, offering services for employees and visitors, as well as public functions such as a modern conference center, a cinema, and commercial spaces. The project also includes a new regional railway station, a residential complex, and a pedestrian bridge connecting the area to Centro Direzionale (CBD), fostering urban integration and sustainable mobility. Embedded within the urban fabric, the two towers emerge with an elegant and functional presence, embodying a new vision of sustainable architecture. Their compact form is not just an aesthetic choice but a smart solution: reducing the physical footprint means giving space back to the city, creating large public green areas where concrete gives way to nature.
© BrickVisual I Napoli Porta Est Masterplan.
Thanks to excellent thermal insulation, the towers—designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification—maintain an optimal indoor climate in all seasons, reducing energy demand for air conditioning. Additionally, the exterior cladding is designed to minimize solar load and glare, contributing to a healthier and more comfortable work environment. The facade design intelligently follows the sun’s movement, with north-facing openings enlarged to allow natural light to penetrate the interiors and offer spectacular views of the city, while direct sun exposure is reduced on other facades, limiting energy consumption for cooling. This interplay of volumes and transparency creates a harmony between interior and exterior, balancing innovation and environmental respect. The interior spaces are designed to maximize natural light, reducing the need for artificial lighting, one of the main energy consumers in modern office buildings. In fact, the design optimizes natural light through the central positioning of the core, while selective glazing reduces solar heat gain and glare.
Energy efficiency is ensured through natural ventilation systems, green roofs, and passive solutions, including a 7,000 m² photovoltaic system on rooftops and canopies. The project offers high seismic performance and sustainable resource management, complying with CAM and DNSH criteria. The hybrid concrete and steel structure, supplied by local manufacturers, ensures cost control, optimized construction timelines, and maximum flexibility. The development is carried out in phases, allowing for the immediate use of completed areas and improving process efficiency. The masterplan is designed for climate resilience, with solutions that reduce environmental impact. The use of recycled water helps maintain vegetation, reducing potable water consumption by 60%. Additionally, local geothermal energy significantly contributes to sustainability, while public spaces, conceived as “sponge cities,” absorb rainwater, mitigating flood risks.
© BrickVisual I Napoli Porta Est Masterplan.