The Smart & Sustainable Marina panel session on the role of architecture in marina development saw experts and industry figures from the worlds of architecture and engineering come together to discuss the innovations that are guiding the look and purpose of marinas of the future. Monaco Life‘s Niki Borisova headed down to the Yacht Club de Monaco, which hosted the event, to hear how eco-friendly principles and solutions are shaping sustainable marina design.
In the run-up to the Monaco Yacht Show, which will be held between 25th and 28th September in Port Hercule, the Yacht Club de Monaco played host to Monaco Marina Management’s Smart & Sustainable Marina event on 22nd and 23rd September.
The event programme featured a range of networking sessions, workshops, panel discussions and talks for those in affiliated industries, with one particular highlight being the roundtable talk on the role of architecture in sustainable marina development, held on the second day and attended by Monaco Life.
Oscar Siches, a respected marina consultant and designer, moderated the panel discussion, which covered topics such as why sustainable marinas are essential, the challenges of building them and the future of this industry.
Climate change and environmental impacts were at the heart of the talks, and participants acknowledged the rise in demand for eco-friendly yachting infrastructure around the world.
“When we focus on natural biodiversity when designing something, we inherently address climate action. This is a pivotal cultural shift that needs to occur,” said Janna Bystrykh, Head of the Master in Architecture Programme at the Academy of Architecture, on the topic of understanding the environment in which a marina is built. “Space is often a constraint in marina development, as we must consider not only the physical footprint of the marina itself, but also the surrounding ecosystems and community needs.”
A holistic vision
Creating a successful sustainable marina, whether building a new site or adapting a pre-existing marina to sustainable ideals, requires designers and engineers to find the correct balance between environmental concerns and practical, economic and social needs.
“It is a complex process,” said Effie Nakajima, Senior Associate at the innovative Zaha Hadid Architects, “but this industry has a shared goal: to establish a protected vision. With this common goal, we can achieve sustainable development more effectively.”
According to Nakajima, an essential factor in overcoming these challenges is to “never design in isolation”. This means that the vision needs to be holistic, involving not only the client, but also the greater community, including local organisations and businesses. It needs to be a cohesive collaboration, she said.
References in the world of yachting and marina development that were highlighted by the panel included Porto Carlo Riva in Italy, Porto Habacoa in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Sherry in Spain, Secret Harbour Marina in St. Thomas, Setup Marinas KAS in Turkey and Willoughby Marina in the United States.
Looking beyond the yachting industry, the experts also spoke of the increased interest in sustainable development in cities around the world. Bystrykh mentioned Paris as an example, where hundreds of buildings have been refurbished using bio-based materials. In recent years, the city has sought to position itself as a leading example in sustainable architectural practices, even winning the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture in 2022.
Nevertheless, as Nakajima stressed, this change in sustainable architecture is not coming in fast enough as the rate of climate change increases.
Henry Glogau, an architect and innovation expert, closed the panel with his thoughts for the future, saying, “My dream is that designing marinas will be less driven by money and more by protecting the environment.”
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Photo by Monaco Life