Complex hybrid architecture
Introduction
The Bigo is an architectural structure located in the Old Port area of Genoa, designed by architect Renzo Piano. Made on the occasion of the 1992 International Specialized Exhibition (known as the "Colombiadas"), the Bigo has become one of the main symbols of the urban remodeling of the Ligurian capital.[1][2].
Inspired both in its shape and its name by bighi (traditional cargo cranes on ships),[3] the work fulfills a double function: it houses a rotating panoramic elevator that offers a 360° view of the city and, at the same time, serves as a support structure for the tensile structure of the Piazza delle Feste, located below. Due to its symbolic value, the Bigo is represented in the official logo of the Old Port of Genoa.[4].
History and project
El Bigo was born within the framework of the extensive recovery project of the Old Port, commissioned by Renzo Piano on the occasion of the celebrations of the 5th centenary of the discovery of America. The inauguration took place on May 15, 1992, coinciding with the opening of the Expo.[2].
The architectural design was the work of the Renzo Piano Building Workshop"), while the complex structural calculations were entrusted to the engineering firm Ove Arup & Partners,[5] under the direction of Peter Rice, a famous engineer who had already collaborated with Piano on works such as the Center Pompidou in Paris.[6].
Over the years, the structure has been subject to maintenance to counteract the wear and tear caused by atmospheric agents and saltpeter. In early 2025, a major restoration and repainting intervention began to preserve its integrity and original appearance.[7].
Description and structure
Contenido
El Bigo es una compleja estructura atirantada de acero, compuesta por un mástil central inclinado y una serie de siete brazos de diferentes longitudes y funciones que se abren en abanico. Su concepción multifuncional lo convierte en un elemento central del Puerto Antiguo. Desde el punto de vista de la ingeniería, se clasifica como una estructura híbrida y compleja, que pertenece simultáneamente a varias categorías: una estructura de mástil atirantado (), una estructura suspendida de arco y cables () y una estructura de cubierta atirantada que soporta una membrana tensada ().[8].