by Bridgette Meinhold,

A new recreational promenade was created this summer out of a section of retired railway in between the towns ofAlbisola Superiore and Celle Ligure on the coast of Italy. What was once an unused cut in the coast is now a useful and prominent tourist attraction for the area, which provides space for recreation and views of the ocean. The rehabilitation of the abandoned railroad was completed through a collaboration between 3S studio and Voarino Cairo Voarino, who began planning for the project back in 2007. The project was designed to be as environmentally sensitive to the space as possible while making use of low impact materials.

The project entailed completely upgrading and renovating the entire stretch of railroad between the two coastal towns. Converted to a walking path, the promenade also includes a creation of vantage points that would encourage its use as a recreational space as well as a tourist attraction. The main goals of the project were to provide continuity to the pedestrian paths, increase the usability of the coast line, make use of materials with low environmental impact, increase use of public parks, and create new opportunities for tourism.

The entire project was carried out in an environmentally aware manner to protect the sensitive site and beautiful vistas. The renovation of the railway also focussed on improving the safety of the tunnels as well as the reef slope. Construction began on the project in June of 2009 and was completed two years later in the July of 2011. Bike and pedestrian paths are open and accessible to the public and benches and rest areas are provided for those who want to enjoy the view. The tunnel will also be used as a “container” for art exhibitions.

(Source: www.inhabitat.com )