site ANALYSIS

current state

Currently, the Fontaínhas image is marked by three main

nodes and their connections. As meeting points for paths and people, the three nodes - the area of the old Rest Home of Mendicidade, the square of Padre Baltazar Guedes and the Alegria Square - have the potential to resignify the relationship of the region with the rest of the city, and therefore demonstrating strength and opportunity. The nodes and their connections, together, constitute the backbone of Fontaínhas. Furthermore, some buildings adjacent to nodes 1 and 2 can be characterized as landmarks, thus being attraction points in the region.

Nodes

Edges Opportunities

Landmarks

Strengths Districts

In the site there are two main areas with similar housing typologies within them, thus denoting two districts. During the evolution of the constructed area, the districts encountered two different edges: the Prado do Repouso cemetery, and the steep river bank. Later, when the constructed space was mostly solidified, a third edge was constructed that cut the connection btween the site and the city center, making the access to Fontaínhas harder: the Infante Dom Henrique’s Bridge. By limiting the growth of the urban net, physically by the cliff, functionally by the cemetery and mobility wise by the bridge, these edges shape the built environment of Fontaínhas.

proposal bases

concept

Through the analysis of the space, considering the urban development of the intervention area and the reading of its image and its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats identified by the group, an urban project was designed with the objective of revitalizing Fontaínhas. Since the analysis clearly points out the disconnection of the area with the Douro River and with several layers of the urban network of the city of Porto, such as the cultural, touristic, public transport and equipment networks, as well as the absence of a solid internal network of commerce, services and community activities that once existed and that helped to maintain the viability of the place and the livelihood of the population, the proposal uses the motto (re)connection of Fontaínhas. Such (re)connection, which sometimes refers to the creation of new connections and sometimes to the rescue of connections that once existed, is mainly focused on three relations: with the center of Porto, exploring the visibility that can be obtained with the intervention at notable points; with the river, imperative in the urban structuring of the locality, but which sudden unevenness of the slope creates an obstacle for establishing a more direct contact between the upper part of Fontaínhas and the river bank; in the relationship with the city, taking advantage mainly of the proximity and with itself, seeking to create a chain of solidarity amongst the population based on spaces for socializing and the offer of local commerce and services. Therefore, each intention of the proposal is designed with the goal of collaborating with the premise, which can be summarized in:

(RE)CONNECTING FONTAÍNHAS:

with the center with the river with itself

target users

The proposal was designed considering primarily the benefit of the current local population of Fontaínhas, people who, from what was observed in visits to the area, have lived there for years and have a strong cultural and emotional bond with the site. As in the past the interaction between residents was more intense, through the contact generated by equipment for routine activities, such as in the washrooms, and in sporadic collective activities, such as at the São João festival and at the Vandoma Market, even with these dynamics not happen anymore, there is still a feeling of

community that the project aims to strengthen.

In addition, the proposal seeks to stimulate the population to come from other parts of Porto, not necessarily to live, but essentially due to an offer of services, commerce and leisure spaces, reinforcing the presence of Fontaínhas in the city's networks. In this process, it is expected that the generated environment will also function as a space for social reintegration of a portion of the population usually marginalized, such as homeless and refugees. Thus, the motto of (re)connection goes beyond the physical sphere of the project and is also about the relationship between the population of Fontaínhas, the population of Porto and groups that are normally marginalized,

generating a multicultural, dynamic and welcoming environment for all.

3

1 2

4

5

Strategies

In order to achieve the intended (re)connections, a series of strategies were adopted, notably:

To recover the relation with the river, a series of connections were proposed in the cliff, some are contemplative slow routes and some are mechanical routes that make the link more practical and accessible;

existent connections proposal connection

1 - Aliados Avenue 2 - Bolhão Market 3 - Campanhã Station 4 - São Bento Station 5 - Porto’s Catedral 6 - Customhouse

To increase the relationship with Gaia, it’s proposed to convert the

Maria Pia Bridge into a

pedestrian path that flows into the pedonal paths that are being built on the Gaia's river bank, tracing a leisure route that connects the two cities;

Intending to establish a link with the center of Porto, it’s proposed the rehabilitation of the old Rest

Home of Mendicidade and the implementation of attractive civic and cultural programs in a highly visible point close to the city center;

To help with the site’s appeal,

equipments will be created to collaborate with the offer of

services and local commerce, such as a Market and programs associated to the night shelter that serve the general population, which also contribute to the reintegration the usually marginalized portions of the population;

In addition to the previous point, it’s intended the establishment of

a microcredit that makes the local population the main beneficiary of the site’s

development as a means of curbing a further gentrification caused by its revitalization;

For a better connection with the rest of the city, it’s proposed the rehabilitation of the Customhouse Railway, now unused, making a connection with the old Porto's Customhouse and the Campanhã Station, which besides being a means of connection with the rest of the national territory, it has a great offer of public transport lines;

To stimulate the community life, the plan intends to create and

requalificate public spaces associated with the equipments of collective interest;

And, to foment the circulation among the main points of intervention, it’s proposed to make

the paths between them more pleasant for pedestrians.

proposed project

Main nodes interventions

Secondary node intervention Main connections interventions

Secondary connections interventions general plan

Concerning the concrete achievements of our project, the major interventions are distributed over the 3 opportune nodes identified during our analysis. They all have essential points of attraction in order to respond to our urban strategy. Indeed, the first node is located at the exit of the Infante D. Henrique Bridge and hosts the Old Rest Home of Mendicidade, a space with visibility due to its proximity to the center and with intense traffic routes. The Alegria Square, qualified as the second node, proves to be an important hub to connect the neighborhood with the rest of the city because of the diverse programs around it that bring together users from different age groups. Concerning node 3, the presence of the Salesianos School and the Cemetery of Prado do Repouso point to a possibility of higher use of the Padre Baltasar Guedes Square, which today is used as a parking lot. Given the importance of the nodes, the connection’s development between them is essential, since it’s conjointment brings together the urban plan as a whole.

In addition, the cliff is identified as a relevant space in the implementation of the design intents, since it's through it that the connection with the river is possible, while collaborating with the connection with the rest of the city by reactivating the Customhouse Railway. Supplementary to these main project areas, a series of secondary interventions are proposed in order to articulate the main interventions, revitalizing the site as a whole. Together, the main and secondary spaces make possible the achievement of the project's objectives.