Urban requalification in the suburbs - development of a strategic axis in Agualva-Cacém

Mestrado em Arquitetura Paisagista - Instituto Superior de AgronomiaUrban centres and cities are par excellence representations of complexity of human landscapes and environments. In the context of a rapid urban growth and a technologic centred world, these places are the stage for dynamic changes, and reveal a heterogenic spatial, human and ecologic composition in both hemispheres of the World. Having this complex space in mind, the present dissertation intended to frame the field of action of landscape architecture in a specific type of urban settlement - the suburban one, in a way of establishing good quality public spaces while combining social/cultural and ecological concerns. The case study was the “satellite” city of Agualva-Cacém, located between Lisbon and Sintra - an important Portuguese city for its cultural landmarks and ecological context. In this sense, an analysis of the concept of “quality” in the outdoor space was made, as well as a reflection upon good design practices for public parks and urban streets. Secondly, design strategies in the case of Agualva-Cacém were proposed, considering environmental and social concerns: in one hand, to contribute to a more sustainable management of water, soil and to contribute to the green infrastructure of Agualva-Cacém; in another hand, to change the image of the city and improve the quality of life within a contemporary urban environment characterized by spatial fragmentation, dependency on the use of the automobile and daily pendular movements of people. This was achieved through the proposal of requalification of urban spaces confined in a delimitated strategic axis, composed by an avenue and two different public parks. The three public spaces of this axis are then interconnected, forming a continuous system of water circulation, green continuity, soft mobility and public spacesN/