Europan 2015 – Propuesta en Portugal

Propuesta

Equipo de diseño: Gonzalo Cruz, Jose Marteleira, Olenka Palomino, Martin Alberto Granizo
Consultoria Estructural: Alberto Ordoñez
Grafica e Imágenes: Jose Marteleira, Alberto Granizo, Olenka Palomino
Ubicación: Barreiro, Portugal

Nature Rules

Barreiro has been loosing population since 1985. the possibility of regenerate an inmense space that no longer has a function is one of the premises of the intervention. the decline of the heavy industry and the alternative crossings over the tagus river left barreiro with big unused spaces. like in some cities around the world the option to re naturalize spaces can trigger social improvements and a general benefit for local populations.

The intensive use of land to economic   purposes is replaced by soft, recreational spaces for tourism and cultural activities.

Barreiro lacks big spaces that define urban boundaries and are capable of creating hierarchies. the lack of function leaves abandoned structures that no longer perform their role. a park always make sense, not just because it is the natural primitive state of the planet but because it helps to balance the urban sterile spaces from the 60´s and 70´s urban interventions. as the population declines in number the city regains its natural limits which were forgotten. the city adapts to not only the economic situation but also to the demographics and migrations. the future city must incorporate and merge with the river blending the flow of people that leave everyday to work with the ones that stay to enjoy the natural spaces. it is possible to aspire to a more livable city with less contamination and more green spaces. the unused structures can be replaced by parks and plazas.

barreiro needs a waterfront open to all that defines the limit of the “built” city where people can gather, use their bicycle and go out at theweekend to go shopping. the activation of this space depends on how easy and soft the river blends with the urban.


 1the existing platform is reshaped and a park emerge from the available space. the shadow of trees merge with the newly defined paths. now there are spaces for picnics and nature reaffirms its su­premacy. the alburica natural views are not only maintained but enhanced and the river claims its once lost domain. the city gains a big natural out­door space and the old embankment that was nothing more than an empty embarrassment with no purpose becomes one big regenerated area. the option is to let nature rules. the increase of green areas not only reduce the polution but also increase the market val­ue of the existing dweling buildings.

2the iconic buildings that coincide with the wa­terfront path are maintained and reuse. the railway complex building and the firemen headquarters will define the future liberdade avenue thus creating a boundary between the city and the tagus estuary .the option to demolish some of the existing build­ings is linked with the objective of having a linear wa­terfront. the train station by the river will became a restaurant and a place for exquisite experiences thus maintaining the industrial and rail heritage. the purpose of this icon is to reignite its surroundings and rebalance the urban network. what was once an abandoned building emerges as the most important element in the embankment.

3the boundary between the river and the new pub­lic spaces generate beaches of river sand that gives the embankment a strategic role in the environment balance of the city. the once forgotten space can be now used for outdoor activities. it is of great impor­tance that people are allowed to connect with the water and the trees. the not so strict shore line is a soft element in an harsh existing industrial context that improves the environmental sustainability pre­serving and recuperating the waterfront and expand­ing the recreational and sport areas. the artificial platform directs people to the new buildings of the transport interchange thus maintaining the existing function but enhancing it with new urban activities. a new plaza is created so that the old railway station receives its deserved status.

4the project considers that transporte inter­change not only can be compative with the objective of the proposal but also improve and maintain the rich memory of the site. two new buildings will ap­pear apart from the transport interchange,. the first is a double height space with recreational and com­mercial activities with attraction capacity that will have an exterior deck as the main walk towards the river. this will enhance the tourist activities and will burst cultural vibrance. the second is a circle where will be located the existing fisherman activities. it is a more private space dedicated to the traditional fish­ing activities.

5the liberdade avenue is redesigned with improved mobility conditions repairing the fragmented urban fabric and increasing the amount of parking spaces by displacing the existing parking spaces from the em­bankment to the lateral area of the avenue.
it is created a bicycle lane that will allow the con­tinuity between barreiro and seixal thus improving the soft mobility and urban connectivity ensuring pedestrian and cycling movement. this structure will integrate eolic generators in its structures. the pos­sibility of a light rail between barreiro and seixal is maintained.






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