MASTER PLAN July 24, 2014
Vision Statement The newly expanded Rif Curaçao Seaport will enhance the island s ability to welcome guests to a vibrant and entertaining waterfront. The Rif Seaport Curaçao development is dedicated to providing a fun, memorable experience for cruise visitors from arrival to departure. The project will expand the island s ability to welcome more frequent calls by larger cruise vessels through development of a Second Mega Cruise Ship Pier. Guests will enjoy improved linkages, from well-functioning ground transportation zones and expanded pedestrian plazas and sidewalks, to the entirety of the Curaçao destination offering. The Rif Seaport extends the richness of the island s architecture and culture, creating a place where visitors can experience the vibe, rhythm and flavors of Curaçao. With a spacious open-air design, guests can enjoy the Curaçao weather while planning your tour adventure, sipping a local cocktail, or browsing the goods available at the marketplace. Enjoy our Dushi Korsou and welcome to the Rif Seaport Curaçao.
project context Within walking distance to all of Willemstad s historic and shopping highlights. The planned Rif Seaport is located in the historic Otrobanda District of Willemstad, west of the Sint Annabaai Channel. The project site has a number of strengths. The site includes the current Mega Cruise Ship Pier and lands to the west, bringing cruise passengers within walking distance of Willemstad s varied touristic offer and notable UNESCO World Heritage protected downtown and neighborhoods. The project area acts as a natural extension of Curaçao s cruise tourism infrastructure, extending and improving upon current pedestrian pathways, vehicular and logistical zones, and wayfinding features. The Rif Seaport is also a short drive from the Hato International Airport (9 kilometers) and is close to many of Curaçao s signature resorts.
vision plan Through its diversity of uses, year-round programming, and interconnected public spaces, the Rif Seaport Curaçao will provide a vibrant welcome to island guests and local users. The Rif Seaport Curaçao is comprised of three interrelated components. The new, Second Mega Cruise Ship Pier will welcome cruise guests and bring them to a new arrivals area connected to the waterfront promenade, ground transportation areas, and Rif Seaport Village. The Rif Seaport Village offers a dynamic retail, food and entertainment experience for guests and Island residents. Arranged along the project s main waterfront promenade, the Rif Seaport Village offers duty free and traditional retail shops, an open air marketplace focused on local crafts and culinary offerings, waterfront food and beverage establishments and a sequencing of entertainment elements. Linking the Rif Seaport Village and the new pier is the centralized ground transportation area providing over 35 bus positions for scheduled and independent tours. Arrangement allows for maximum utility and flexibility for tour operations. With the exception of the passenger arrivals building and piers, all areas are open to the public.
RIF SEAPORT VISION PLAN (Realization of Phase 2) LEGEND 1. Existing Mega Cruise Ship Pier (311m LOA Vessel) 2. New (Second) Mega Cruise Ship Pier (363m LOA Vessel) 3. Passenger Arrivals Building(s) 4. Independent Tour Scheduling Center(s) 5. Taxi Operations Areas 6. Tour Operations Areas 7. Celebration Plaza 8. Arrivals Plaza (Second Mega Cruise Ship Pier) 9. Retail Shopping Plaza 10. Waterfront Restaurants 11. Open Air Marketplace 12. Performance Amphitheater 13. Waterfront Promenade (Open to Public) 14. Linkage to Rif Fort, Pontoon Bridge and Punda District 15. Future Road Linkage (by others) 16. Parking Areas 16 Curacao ports authority landdesign Ballast Nedam hill international
15 16 5 8 4 13 6 4 11 7 9 10 5 12 14 3 3 2 1 hill international Ballast Nedam landdesign Curacao ports authority 17
places and features The sequencing of streets and public spaces will foster a memorable experience of walkable retail, unique dining, and world-class entertainment. The Rif Seaport Curaçao is organized around a wide waterfront promenade, meeting guests at each of the arrival points and leading them through the project s varied components and the various Willemstad and Island offerings. The promenade is punctuated by waterfront vistas, plazas, and quaint pedestrian shopping streets all working together to create a harmonious environment designed at the human scale. Buildings range in height from one- to two-stories, creating enclosure around key arrival areas and plazas. Building placement works to emphasize key sightlines to and from cruise ships, ground transportation areas, and main pedestrian ways. This also will provide a high degree of visibility for retail and marketplace businesses. Buildings, awnings, canopies and landscape elements are situated to buffer main plazas from wind and provide shade for guests. The architectural theme for all buildings in the project is a blend of traditional Caribbean Dutch form with other more contemporary indigenous elements to create a place that feels familiar yet distinctive in the overall Willemstad area. Building colors are cool and muted, favoring shades of white and lighter tones, with patios, awnings, shutters and doorways. On the groundplane, hardscape elements have more vibrancy and patterning.
project view ARRIVALS PLAZA (Looking East) ARRIVAL EXPERIENCE The new arrivals plaza allows for a warm passenger welcome the Rif Seaport, immersing them in the destination but also providing space to clearly discern pathways to ground transportation areas, venues, and the broader Willemstad offer. hill international Ballast Nedam landdesign Curacao ports authority 25
project view ARRIVALS PLAZA (Looking West) STREETS AND PATHWAYS The Rif Seaport Village is organized around a central walking street; a place to stroll and explore the variety of retail, marketplace and dining options. This central street connects to the Waterfront Promenade to the Rif Fort, the Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge, Punda and other unique, historic UNESCO World Heritage Site neighborhoods. hill international Ballast Nedam landdesign Curacao ports authority 29
project view WATERFRONT PROMENADE (Looking East) ENTERTAINMENT The Rif Seaport is punctuated by a series of plazas and performance areas. Live music during disembarkation provides a great welcome to cruise guests. The sundown celebration and other street activities gather crowds of visitors and locals alike. hill international Ballast Nedam landdesign Curacao ports authority 31
implementation Plan implementation allows for flexibility and development paced to market conditions. The Master Plan calls for the development of the Rif Seaport Curaçao in three phases. Phase 1 includes the creation of the Second Mega Cruise Ship Pier and adjacent upland connection point, passenger arrivals building and plaza, ground transportation area, and pedestrian linkage to the current cruise site and Willemstad beyond. Phase 2 advances the Rif Seaport Village and related ground transportation and logistical zones as well as an expansion of pedestrian facilities and infrastructure. The combination of Phases 1 and 2 whether advanced together or in sequential order comprise the core Master Plan improvements and contribute the largest portion of economic and social benefit to the Island. Based on market conditions, a third project phase and additional plan recommendations are provided to expand the overall retail, food service and entertainment offer of the Rif Seaport project.