There are plans to build an artificial atoll in the Adriatic Sea off the coast of the upmarket seaside resort of Riccione in Rimini, Emilia-Romagna.
Known as T.H.E.R.E (Touristi hub Emilia Romagna est, East Emilia-Romagna Tourist Hub), the project is the brainchild of the Sealine Lab is part of the University of Ferrara’s Departure of Architecture. According to press reports, the €1 billion project has the backing of Riccione’s mayor and is being financed privately by Saudi Arabian, English and Dutch investors.
The plans for the atoll will be presented formally at the Faculty of Architecture of Ferrara in February. An assessment of its environmental impact on the area is underway.
The initiative suggests that the half-mile-long artificial island be located 3 nautical miles from Riccione. It aims to draw more tourists into the area with the capacity to house 9,000 people and 400 boats. The atoll would be equipped with hotels, apartments, parks, shops, a marina, green research institutes, and a port capable of berthing cruise ships en route to and from Venice, Croatia and Greece.
Inevitably, comparisons are being made to the artificial islands off the coast of Dubai frequented by wealthy tourists. However, the project’s proponents say there will be no fake sand for beaches and that the atoll will be more like an extension to the mainland in “synergy with the coast” rather than a getaway destination for the rich.
Sealine Lab describes the proposal as “A smart island, a self-sufficient infrastructure... [with] the most advanced technologies... [for] renewable energy, water and waste management through closed-loop systems.”
