ARCHITECTURE OF EMPOWERMENT: COMMUNITY CENTER FOR REFUGEES IN FONTAÍNHAS

Individual Master Thesis

This thesis project, developed in the Project Studio O estrangeiro from the University of Coimbra, seeks to understand how marginalized groups can be better integrated in cities. The research, in its theoretical aspect, focused on the empowerment of such groups, through the formation of a support community, the democratization of education and culture, and the occupation of central spaces in the city. In its practical aspect, the research materialized in the creation of a new public equipment: a Community Center for refugees in the region of Fontaínhas, in Porto, Portugal.

Within the municipality of Porto, the Fontaínhas region is in a peculiar condition –close to the historic center, but disconnected from transport, commerce and service networks. The first step in establishing these connections was, therefore, to propose a urban revitalization, with the intention of demarginalizing the region by improving public spaces and stimulating the influx of people and investments to it. In the process of analyzing Fontaínhas, some characteristics that form it’s image were identified, in addition to strengths and opportunities.

Fontaínhas organizes itself around three main nodes: the area of the Old Rest Home and the Fontaínhas Lane (node 1); the Alegria Square (node 2); and the Padre Baltasar Guedes Square (node 3). These three areas are important meeting points of roads and people, and are associated with notable facilities (landmarks). Among these three sites, the 1st one was chosen as the location for the new Community Center, based on its great visibility and connections to important squares and avenues.

DouroRiver

Mapping of Fontaínhas current conditions

NODE 3

Node 1

Within this first node, the Old Rest Home building was chosen to house the Community Center, with the intervention being done through a rehabilitation project.

Intended to be a space for creating connections and strengthening the local community, the Center houses cultural, sports, training, and educational programs. To the side, you can see the organization chart of the initial distribution of the programs, which given the preexisting structure of the building, are arranged in its four wings built around a central courtyard.

Old Rest Home of Fontaínhas

- originally built in 1796; - passed through different uses until it was closed in 2018 (currently abandoned);

- current structure made of masonry walls and wooden and concrete slabs;