Urban regeneration and strategies of intervention: A project for Münster’s harbor

In the context of the contemporary debate on architecture, the issue
of urban and architectural regeneration and “recycling” has in recent
years become central, reflecting a social and economic situation in
which the discipline of architecture must give a strong answer: in
particular when dealing with waterfronts. Compared to the great
European interventions that in the early nineties involved the
dismissed harbours of the great European capitals (Amsterdam,
Rotterdam, Cologne, Hamburg), which were characterised by a
unified and coordinated design guaranteed by the instrument of the
masterplan, the case of Münster stands out as alternative. Here
some important changes have happened and are still happening in
the city river harbour and they are strongly connected to the issues
of urban renewal of abandoned and dismissed areas. And more new
scenarios are still possible, in particular in the southern areas of the
harbour, where new buildings for housing, work and leisure, coexisting
with the conversion of ancient buildings, could build a new
waterfront for the city.