Revitalizing Marina Bar: Architecture, Public Realm, and Future Flexibility

This project presents the redesign of the passenger terminal and marina landscape at the Port of Bar, Montenegro. The port currently faces challenges as a maritime gateway and as a public space for the local population. Issues such as inefficient spatial and functional planning, fragmented landscape design, and environmental issues have weakened the marina’s identity. With the development of the city as a tourist hub and as regional ports continue to expand their offerings, Bar has fallen behind in the advancement of its offerings to tourists arriving by sea, one of the city’s main sources of income.

The proposed intervention introduces a new passenger terminal, which will accommodate cruise, ferry, and yacht passengers; a redesigned marina landscape that encourages and increases public use; and the introduction of a dual function for the terminal, which will ensure ongoing activity during the off-season. Multiple site analyses, user patterns, and reviews, combined with the urban context, guided the design choices, which resulted in a solution that enhances functionality, efficiency, and visitor experience.

The project demonstrates how an architectural vision, combined with targeted spatial and operational interventions and research, can positively reshape the perception and performance of the Port of Bar. Since it already holds a special place in the city’s identity, the proposed solution creates an even stronger connection between the sea and city, initiating a broader urban impact on the city’s urban fabric while positioning the marina in a new light as a more active and integrated part of Bar’s contemporary life.