Sarnada: Entre o Passado e o Futuro no Campo

Abstract

This dissertation - "Sarnada, between Past and Future in the Countryside" - aims to reflect on the transformative potential of architecture in villages, focusing on the village of Rio de Vide, in the district of Coimbra, Portugal. This research covers the challenges inherent to depopulation, the transformation of these areas and the decline of traditional practices, reflected in the reduction in agricultural and forestry production. It seeks to highlight how carefully planned architectural interventions can contribute to the revitalisation of villages. This analysis adopts a multifocal approach, integrating historical, cultural and technological perspectives. The chapters are structured around three temporal axes - Past, Present and Future. They explore the historical and cultural background of the region, the contemporary challenges to, and solutions for, preserving and enhancing the characteristics of country life, while respecting the unique socio-cultural fabric of rural areas. By using time as a guide, the aim is to demonstrate that architecture can play a vital role in village revitalisation and make a relevant contribution to the sustainability of the local economy and communities. This search is materialized through the architectural proposal for Lugar da Sarnada. This experimental project draws on contemporary references and concepts, as well as the memories, materiality and traditions of the place. Through innovative and context-sensitive architectural design, it is aimed to show that it is possible to both preserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage, while introducing more contemporary ways of living. To summarize, this dissertation highlights the potential of architecture in the service of community development, taking the view that these spaces are idiosyncratic entities with their own opportunities and challenges, requiring the development of architectural practices that are simultaneously original, sensitive and contextually informed.