PUBLIC PLACES IN HYBRID TERRITORIES (Viana do Castelo, Portugal)

3d rendering of the urban design, A. Sumanti

The project in Viana do Castelo is focusing on the meaning and the potential of public space in new urban developments.

Portugal has an urban tradition of squares that are situated on the edges of the city. Original these squares were market places; later on they were transformed to urban squares with shops and restaurants. The market, as a activity, used to be the genetic function for the town. Medieval urban structures were obliged to create appropriated spaces for it. The Portuguese version of it was the void space, closed to the town, named “rossio”.  Normal evolutions of these towns have showed several versions of these empty spaces. In fact, new typologies were arriving to these spaces, in order to occupy in a progressive way. Nisa can be a good example of it. Weather conditions obliged to create new in door market-places, of which Bolhão market in Porto is a very good example.

The site “Campo do Agonia” is a new public space in Viana do Castelo on the edge of the compact city centre. The Campo do Agonia is quite a big space. People do not use it very frequently but nevertheless, in the urban perspective, it is an important link between the dense structure of the old city and the extension areas of Viana do Castelo (like the harbour area, the seaside, the industrial area and residential areas).

Design weeks

The first design week is on the project site in Portugal. You stay in Porto and the workshop is in the University. We start with visiting the project location in Viana do Castelo. After that (day 2 till 4) you develop a concept of your design. In the second design week you will analyze and visit reference projects of transformed harbour areas in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
Design week 1: Casa della musica in Porto, OMA

Course contents

Competencies:
In this Urban Nomads program you will develop  6 professional competencies: Concept, Urban Design, Analysis, Urban Research, Urban Strategy, Being aware of surroundings.
During 1 semester you will work continuously and integrally on these competencies. You work individual and you will get weekly feedback in classes on your products. This project includes 2 design weeks and a final presentation.

Feedback on products:
Once a week you get individual feedback on the design products in the studio of Urban Nomads (location, day and time have to be announced)

Final presentation:
At the end of the course you will present your project to professionals.

Portfolio:
After the final presentation your portfolio will be accessed by certificated assessors on the 6 competencies. You will receive a certificate

Partners

Saxion University of Applied Sciences
University Fernando Pessoa, department of architecture and urbanism
Prof. Jose Pagés y Madrigal, architect, Beirut
Lowieke Duran, artist, Rotterdam
Ton Schaap, urban designer, Amsterdam
Design week 1: Prof. J. Pagés y Madrigal talking to residents in Viana do Castelo

Results

Final Final presentation of your individual urban design:
At the end of the course you present a urban design for the future developing of Campo do Agonia. The proposal is thought to be developed in two levels:
- the urban level, as an integral project, in you give insight in the future development of the area and the context of the area
- the object level is the other goal: the design of one of the different pieces to be implemented

It will be necessary to reckon the development of the extension areas west of Campo do Agonia, because these will affect the potentials of Campo do Agonia. According to the network theory it might be interesting to compare the development of these areas to the redevelopment of former harbour areas in the Netherlands (this is the topic for design week 2): would it be possible to determine comparable developments, and what are specific developments of the situation in Viana do Castelo.

Schedule

Concept schedule spring term (March –June)   Holydays:  Eastern, Pentecost, Kings day  3x 1 week
                     March                        April                             May                           June                 
week 1         introduction            research                      design                      design
week 2        analysis                     design                         design                      design
week 3        design week 1          design                         design                      presentation
week 4        concept                    design week 2            design                     assessment

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Period:
2011 spring term

Work load:
40 hours per week

Costs
€ 4800.-