Environmental Remediation at the Former Navy Arsenal of La Maddalena:
Coastal and port areas require specialised interventions capable of combining technical expertise, safety, and the protection of the marine environment. The former Navy Arsenal of La Maddalena represents one of these complex contexts: a strategic site, rich in history, whose regeneration necessarily begins with a thorough remediation process.
STUDIO ML architetture engineering has been appointed by Opere e Infrastrutture della Regione Sardegna to oversee the construction works related to the environmental remediation and securing of the area — a crucial intervention aimed at returning this space to the community in conditions of complete safety.
The remediation of the basin at the former Arsenal of La Maddalena concerns a marine area of approximately 58,000 m², characterised by contaminated sediments and the presence of various submerged elements to be removed or made safe. The project, developed by the Region of Sardinia with a detailed technical and environmental framework, includes the creation of a permanent environmental containment system based on underwater capping.
The main activities include the removal of mooring blocks and materials resting on the seabed, the levelling of the bottom through the placement of washed sand, the installation of an impermeable HDPE geomembrane, and the subsequent placement of concrete ballast mats—produced directly on site—ensuring structural stability and protection.
The intervention is completed with the construction of concrete curbs cast underwater along the quay and on the seaward side, essential to protect the system from scouring and wave motion.
The project is supported by an Environmental Monitoring Plan that tracks turbidity, water quality, the condition of Posidonia oceanica, and seabed status throughout all phases, ensuring full respect for the marine environment.
The experience gained in the Archipelago of La Maddalena—a unique territory where the sea and infrastructure coexist—has led STUDIO ML to develop strong expertise in maritime works, coastal redevelopment, and marine environmental engineering.
The assignment for the former Arsenal is an important milestone in our growth: a project that brings together technical coordination, advanced knowledge of environmental regulations, and the management of complex construction sites near the sea.
Environmental remediation is the first step towards returning the former Arsenal to new functions and new opportunities for the territory. Every intervention – even the least visible – helps build the future of this strategic site within the Archipelago.