A evolução urbana de Matosinhos/Sul

Abstract

This study is focused on the area of Matosinhos/Sul, the different Masterplans that have been applied to it and it's current status, with the aim of studying the evolutionary process of an intervention area before, during and after the application of Masterplans. To do this, we studied the area's growth from the eighteenth century to the present, and also some relevant information prior to the eighteenth century. The analysis of the area until the early twentieth century was achieved through the bibliography, the analysis of cartography and the possibility to obtain knowledge through personal conversations with Professor José Salgado; the analysis from the early twentieth century to the present has been achieved by bibliography consultation, cartographic analysis and the analysis of the current situation of the area was achieved through photographs and surveys that resulted in drawn and written elements. To complete the analysis, were also established comparisons between the case of Matosinhos/Sul and the period of Industrialization in Portugal; Matosinhos/Sul and the city of Porto; and between Matosinhos/Sul and the cities of Lisbon and Barcelona; also, the different Masterplans that have been applied to the area were studied in detail. With this study, it was concluded that the evolution of a city is not entirely conditioned by the principles set out in the Masterplans and there are several situations that are impossible to control or predict; the goals of the Masterplans will change over time bacause different problems rise in direct relation to the needs of the population and socio-economical changes; the strategies used in Masterplans for different areas with similar problems are similar and the results, beyond particular context characteristics, are also similar. Finally, it was concluded that the area of Matosinhos/Sul is growing and some of the goals set out in the Masterplans were already achieved, while others weren't yet achieved, especially as a result of unforeseen changes in the population and its needs and the changes that happened at an economic level in Portugal. Still, it was considered that this is an example of an urban reconversion which resulted well beause the main problems have been overcome and resolved.