Date: 1999/2008

Location: Alcântara, Lisbon, Portugal

Area: 15.000 sqm

Client: Frederico Valsassina Arquitectos, Grupo Obriverca, Somague, P.M.G.

Project Coordinators:
João Ferreira Nunes, Carlos Ribas

Project Collaborators:
Nuno Mota, Márcia Cruz e Silva, Margarida Peneque, António Magalhães Carvalho, Maria Lima, Ana Marques, Joana Barreto

Architecture:
Frederico Valsassina Arquitectos
Grupo Obriverca, Somague PMG

Speciality:
A2P Consult
Ductos
Eace
XIX Construção
Enigmais

Photography:
Diogo Bento
Leonardo Finotti

The conversion of the former União Fontaínhas Factory is part of a global urban solution which establishes diversified outdoor spaces along the main avenue (Av. de Ceuta). These spaces are conceptually united with the definition of an exclusively pedestrian area, which forms a series of inner block situations, protected from the external aggressiveness and simultaneously open to the surroundings. The diversity of the outdoor space is based on two urban solutions limited by the streets where the circulation is more intense and that can be distinguished in reserved leisure areas and peripheral circulation areas. The squares defined by the new buildings create more reserved spaces, intentionally defined as higher affluence areas. The intention of the squares is to share corresponding residential use with the buildings.  The outdoor circulation area is, on the other hand, intimately related to pedestrian flows that cross the spaces and the services that are offered by commercial and office buildings, thus assuming the public character of a pedestrian street. These two typologies are separated by a change of level, which is solved with, gentle gradient, pedestrian ramps that relate with the tilted, metal and vegetation, planes. The underground ventilation system is integrated in the corten steel sheets perforated to allow airing.