Beach improvement and redevelopment of the harbour edge
12th edition of the European Prize for Urban Public Space. Winning project in the Seafronts Category
The project had a twofold objective, taking into account the diversity of the Porto do Son coastline. The first was to create a system of controlled dunes with native vegetation between the park and the beach. The idea was to bring nature to the seafront, which had previously been dominated by a strip of pavement and a wall. The second was to improve access to the beach and resolve the conflicts between the port activities and the growing commercial and residential development.
In the renaturation zone, the project create a transitional stretch of land that would act as both a protective barrier and a link, identifying dunes as the best solution to harmonize the space. the morphology of a dune system was recreated by depositing fine sand to form mounds in two staggered rows. . Native dune species such as marram grass were planted to stabilise the dunes over time and create a dynamic balance. As a transitional space, the new dunes required well-thought-out access points, so three wooden walkways were built to connect the urban spaces with the park.
In the urbanised port area, the project aimed to improve access to the water and resolve the conflicts, and a new port services centre was planned. The design seeks to create a cohesive space that restores the connection between the historic center and the port, while separating the main road from the seafront. Near the market, a wooden structure recalls the town’s old drying racks for fishing nets and serves several purposes. Two new surfaces have also been added –one of stone, the other of earth and trees– and a path leads to a car park and the new Port Services Centre, designed to create a viewpoint towards Monte Louro.
This small stretch of coastline has become a catalyst for wider change, improving environmental quality and access to the beach. The project has raised people’s awareness of the importance of their public spaces and their relationship with the sea.
