The Gondomar Polis Project aims to sustainably requalify Gondomar's 35km River Douro waterfront through interventions like rehabilitating historic buildings, constructing parks and paths, and creating cultural/tourism attractions. The 14-year project is transforming a degraded area through partnerships and in line with objectives like avoiding sprawl and promoting high design standards. It strengthens the community by creating public green spaces and boosting the local economy through tourism. Challenges include ensuring public participation and managing dependencies on central government funding.

1. 5th European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns
Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of
Gondomar's River Douro Waterfront
PORTUGAL
Gondomar Municipality

2. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Joaquim Flores
joaquim.flores@gmail.com
PORTUGAL
Gondomar Municipality

3. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Structure
Introduction
Objectives
POLIS Programme
Gondomar Municipality
Gondomar Polis Project
Conclusions

4. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Objectives
To present the Gondomar Polis Project in relation with
the Aalborg Commitments:
1- regeneration of an area environmentally degraded
for the benefit of all;
2 – avoid urban sprawl in a greenfield site;
3 – rehabilitation and re-use of cultural heritage;
4 – promote high quality urban design standards

5. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
POLIS Programme
Programme for Urban Improvement and Environmental
Enhancement of Towns and Cities
- Portuguese Program of the central administration in
partnership with the local city councils, initiated in 2000
- Main Objective:
- To improve the quality of live in Portuguese cities
through urban and environmental interventions

6. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
POLIS Programme
Interventions in 39 Portuguese
cities:
- 28 large integrated operations
- 12 minor interventions

7. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Gondomar Municipality
full signatory of the
Aalborg Charter
North of Portugal
One of the 14
municipalities of Porto
Great Metropolitan
Area

8. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Gondomar Municipality
Census of 2001 - population of
164.096 inhabitants
131,9 Km2 of Area
Gold jewellery handcraft,
Services, Agriculture and Forest,
are the main economic activities
Forest Area
Forest Spaces
forest, agriculture and natural Forest in Urban Consolidated
protected resources - more than
50% of Territory

9. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Gondomar Municipality
gives continuity to
the Porto River Porto
Douro Front along
35 Km
Gondomar
River Douro
waterfront
Atlantic
waterfront

10. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Gondomar Polis Project
Potential:
Riverfront of 35 Km
Problems:
- the urban growth
becomes progressively
stronger
- leisure phenomenon
also generates pressure
- private ownership
-
Leads to Environmental degradation

11. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Gondomar Polis Project
1999/2000: National
Road 108
Strategic Plan Porto
14 Km of riverfront
main objectives:
control the urban sprawl
requalify the area
in a sustainable way, (saving Crestuma
environmental qualities, improving at Dam
the same time the economic and social
-
level of the local inhabitants)

12. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Gondomar Polis Project
2001:
Gondomar Polis
Project approved
4,5 Km of riverfront
44 hectares
14.900.000,00€
90% Central Government
10% Municipality
Started 2002
Will finish in 2009

13. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Gondomar Polis Project
Porto Oriental Park Gondomar City Centre
Freixo (Porto) Museums
and marina
Gramido valley park /
Green corridor
Pedestrian and cycle
way – 1,5 Km
Gramido central node
Pedestrian and cycle
way – 4,5 Km

14. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Gondomar Polis Project
Strategic Actions:
- Surveys and Studies
- Waterfront requalification projects and works

15. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Gondomar Polis Project
Surveys and Studies:
- Geographical Information System (GIS)
- Sight Plan
- River pollution surveys (partnership)
- Environmental Impact Assessment

16. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Gondomar Polis Project
Sight Plan

17. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Gondomar Polis Project
Waterfront requalification projects and works:
- Waterfront requalification
- Rehabilitation of Gramido Historic House
- Construction of Gramido Nautical Centre
- Construction of Gramido car parking

18. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Gondomar Polis Project
Preliminary Program
Definition of 5 Waterfront Requalification Units (Projects) - Units A,
B, C, D e E according to landscape units

19. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Gondomar Polis Project
Preliminary Program
Flood survey and cartography

20. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Gondomar Polis Project
Preliminary Program
Technical specifications for cycle and pedestrian way

21. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Gondomar Polis Project
Preliminary Program
Project Criteria:
- Concrete program definition
- Quality design standards
- Universal mobility (all locals accessible)
- Connections with public transportation
- Avoid impermeabilization of the soil
- Flood study – appropriated materials and techniques
- Use of local adapted vegetation, avoiding green spaces with
watering systems

22. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Rehabilitation of Gramido Historic House Museum of Gold Jewellery
(2005/2006) – 788.600,00€
Partnership - AIORN

23. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Gramido Nautical
Centre (2006-2007)
1.350.000,00€
Partnership – Local Club
Mix of generations

24. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Waterfront requalification Partnership with Public Institute to bring tourist
Unit C – Gramido boats
1.600.000,00€
33.000 m2
389 m of
waterfront
456 m of cycle and
pedestrian way
5.100 m2 of public
/ green space

25. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Gondomar Environmental Centre
Passal Farm Partnership
with Lipor
Environmental
education
Sustainable
design
Energy and
water
conservation
Biological
farms
Educational
farm

26. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Conclusions
Weakness
- Lack of public participation
- Central Government financial support dependence
- Time delay due to complex plot of public/private entities

27. Session A5- Sustainable (re-)designing of districts
Gondomar Polis Project - Sustainable Requalification of Gondomar's
River Douro Waterfront
Conclusions
Strengths
- Avoid urban sprawl in a green area
- Environmental and landscape requalification of this
degraded green area
- Turning a semi-public area in a quality public green space
for benefit of all
- Promote tourism to bring local income
- Establishment of partnerships to ensure sustainable exploration