Luigi Piccinato and the beach tourism: from the modern design to the seaside towns planning

Abstract

This paper analyzes how one of Italian planning “fathers” faces the demands of seaside tourism during his career, and what contribution he has provided starting from the theoretical reflections of his youth. Later Piccinato designed the master plan of many seaside towns, such as Castellammare di Stabia in 1936, Sorrento in 1940, Pescara in 1955, Lignano Sud in 1961. In 1956 Luigi Piccinato designs the plan of satellite city of Ataköy, and he faces the arrangement of the coast thanks to a complex system of bathing equipment in the service of wide beaches. It is an interesting example of the fusion between the built environment and the natural environment, with which the architect undertakes to develop a unique language, capable of responding to the logical and rational needs, and at the same time leaving enough space for freedom of organic form.