O papel da arquitetura universitária na reabilitação do tecido urbano. Proposta de ampliação do campus da Talagueira

Abstract

This dissertation is based on a reflection on the problems of intervention in the contemporary city, specifically in the medium-sized city, and the ability of the university programme to counteract the trend towards desertification observed in the interior of Portugal. In order to verify some of the premises and complete the research, a project was developed to extend the university facilities at the Talagueira Campus, located in the city of Castelo Branco. The work starts with a brief literature review divided into two themes: the contemporary medium-sized city and the university. The first theme centres on texts by authors such as François Ascher, Françoise Choay and Nuno Portas, reflecting on the characteristics and problems inherent in contemporary urbanism. Particular emphasis is given to the Portuguese context of medium-sized cities, namely the city of Castelo Branco, analysing its growth dynamics and the causes observed for a disjointed urbanism between the historic centre and the areas of recent urban expansion. The second theme briefly analyses the role of public facilities in the symbolic recovery of monumentality in the contemporary city, namely the concrete role of the university programme, exemplified by three case studies in the Portuguese context. Compared to the selected case studies, the Talagueira Campus intervention sought to establish itself as a reference project, contributing to the preservation of Castelo Branco's image. The project favoured a strong and permeable public space design, which establishes relationships with the surrounding space and launches avenues for future interventions. The university programme, as a collective facility, raises questions about the importance of these spaces in building a more balanced and cohesive national territory.