As arquiteturas das lojas do grupo Inditex e o seu impacto nas dinâmicas do espaço público na Rua de Santa Catarina, no Porto

Abstract

This dissertation examines the impact of Inditex group stores at Rua de Santa Catarina, in Porto, aiming to understand how they interact with public space and shape urban dynamics. Beyond a mere commercial occupation, these stores, with their distinct architectural and operational identities, emerge as structuring elements in the life of the street, contributing to the redefinition of pedestrian flows, uses and appropriations of collective space. The research takes Rua de Santa Catarina as its starting point: a central artery of the city, marked by pedestrianisation and a strong heritage dimension, now confronted with the arrival of major international retail chains. The choice of Inditex is justified by its representativeness, both through the diversity of brands present (Zara, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Pull&Bear, Stradivarius and Oysho) and through its capacity to attract and transform urban space. Methodologically, the study combined documental and bibliographic research with direct observation, cartographic and photographic surveys, as well as interviews with shopkeepers, employees and street users. A comparative analysis with Rua Augusta, in Lisbon, was also carried out, framing the case of Porto within a national scale and allowing for the identification of similarities and differences in the way Inditex operates in distinct urban contexts. The findings show that Inditex stores act as true urban anchors, whose presence activates public space and influences circulation patterns. Nevertheless, effects of commercial homogenisation and challenges in preserving historic façades are also evident. The research concludes that the vitality of Rua de Santa Catarina depends largely on these global chains, but that achieving a balance between global commerce and local identity is crucial to ensure the urban and heritage sustainability of the street.