O CRUZINHO - uma "ilha" esquecida: Proposta de reabilitação

Abstract

This dissertation seeks to deepen the study and understanding of the housing model of the workers' "islands", a phenomenon specific to the city of Porto, with particular focus on the "Ilha do Cruzinho", the object of our study. This ensemble of 45 dwellings of extremely modest dimensions, built in the late nineteenth century, is currently, like many other "islands", in an advanced state of abandonment and at risk of demolition, despite its historical, urban, and social value. Initially, and with the aim of grounding a proposal for intervention in the Cruzinho, the work examines the historical context of Porto's industrial growth and the emergence of the island typology-a spontaneous solution for cheap, rapid, and efficient housing developed to address the high demand and limited supply that accompanied the massive influx of workers into the city. It also seeks to understand why this housing model became a fundamental element of Porto's urban identity. Subsequently, the dissertation analyses the contemporary condition of the case study, highlighting how progressive abandonment, together with real-estate pressures, has hindered the preservation and rehabilitation of buildings of significant heritage value. The situation of the Cruzinho thus reflects a broader issue: the difficulty of reconciling heritage preservation, affordable housing, and economic interests in central Porto. In the second part, three case studies with characteristics or circumstances similar to our object of study are examined-the Bairro Rainha D. Leonor, the Bairro de S. Vítor, and the Ilha da Bela Vista-in order to understand different rehabilitation strategies capable of preserving the identity of the original ensembles while ensuring adequate living conditions. Based on these analyses, a rehabilitation proposal is developed for the "Ilha do Cruzinho", seeking to maintain the essence of the place, namely through the preservation of the central footpath and the social dynamics inherent to a workers' island. The typologies and the ensemble are, however, adapted to contemporary requirements of comfort and liveability through the reorganisation of interiors, the requalification of exterior spaces, and the introduction of new volumetric additions and services, without compromising the collective memory of the site. This work demonstrates that Porto's "islands", far from being a problem, can instead constitute opportunities for inclusive urban regeneration. The Ilha do Cruzinho exemplifies the need to balance heritage, community, and future development.