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A vernacular settlement interpreted throughout an urban sustainable approach
2014-01-01 - Carlos, Gilberto Duarte; Viana, David; Fumega Piñero, Francisco
This paper seeks to identify the urban design potential embedded in informal processes of territorial appropriation, interpreting vernacular built interventions at the scale of the entire settlement. The selected case study, located precisely in the transitional zone between the Mediterranean and Atlantic regions of the Iberian Peninsula, reveals the influence of both contexts in physical and cultural terms. It is therefore possible to deduce features that persist in the urban and architectural expression of local communities, ranging from subtle Islamic traces and the resilient Roman legacy to northern barbarian influences, without major formal discontinuities.
The present study was originally developed within the research framework of the European Project VerSus. The main aim of the VerSus Project is to extract knowledge from the fundamental lessons and principles of vernacular architecture and to explore new ways of integrating those principles into contemporary, Montaria Village was analysed by the project’s scientific research team, integrated into academic exercises undertaken by architecture students, and documented through professional workshops. The following text constitutes a transversal synthesis of the overall results, bringing together scientific, pedagogical, and technical perspectives.
Collective and shared spaces
2014-01-01 - Carlos, Gilberto Duarte; Viana, David; Zanini, Laura; Cadinu, Marco
Vernacular collective and shared spaces across Europe display a rich diversity of forms and functions, shaped less by classical Greco-Roman ideals of public space and more by pragmatic, locally grounded strategies for managing essential infrastructures. These spaces emerge as interfaces between inhabitants and systems of water supply, storage, mobility, and agricultural processing, reflecting community-scale resource constraints and cooperative labour. Their morphology evolves through generational inheritance, fluctuating demographics, and shifting subsistence needs, resulting in hybrid property regimes and flexible spatial configurations that contrast with the rigidity of formal urban public space. Often tied to natural features and shaped by communal rituals, ranging from animistic traditions to Christian ceremonies, these spaces anchor social cohesion and articulate a nuanced relationship between private and collective domains.
As adaptive, bottom-up constructs, vernacular collective spaces reveal informal processes of spatial appropriation, negotiation, and continuous transformation. Their boundaries are porous, their functions modular, and their identities deeply embedded in everyday practices, symbolic markers, and micro-infrastructures such as fountains, embankments, and devotional figures. Yet their organic character also presents challenges: the small scale, material fragility, and intricate grain of vernacular layouts often conflict with modern mechanised mobility, leading to pressures for road widening, parking provision, and vehicular access that can undermine heritage integrity. These tensions parallel the difficulties seen in medieval and Islamic urban quarters, where contemporary needs clash with historic urban fabric. Despite such constraints, vernacular collective spaces remain vital exemplars of resilient, community-driven spatial production, offering valuable insights for contemporary urban planning seeking inclusive, culturally embedded, and socially mixed environments.
Identifying Coastal Heritage Vulnerabilities: The Case of Historical Fortified Structures in Northern Portugal
2025-12-09 - Freitas, Isabel Vaz de; Lopes, Hélder Silva; Silva, Fátima Matos
Landscapes and heritage sites hold significant historical, scientific, and social value but face increasing threats from climate change and human activities. Coastal and maritime heritage are at risk from sea-level rise, storms, erosion, ocean acidification, and pressures such as urbanization, construction, and industrial development. Assessing vulnerability involves considering physical, geomorphological, and socioeconomic factors, including land use, population density, tourism, and ecosystem sensitivity. Long-term monitoring, interdisciplinary research, and holistic approaches are essential for effective risk assessment and planning. This study focuses on the coastal landscapes of northern Portugal, where climate change adaptation is urgent. These areas contain important historical heritage, especially fortified military structures that reflect regional identity and maritime history shared with other coastal nations. The research highlights significant risks to these monuments because of their proximity to the sea and expanding urban areas, providing insights to guide policymakers and support localized adaptation strategies. A two-phase methodology was employed, beginning with a comprehensive literature review to identify key indicators that informed field observations, surveys, and archival research, resulting in a detailed inventory of coastal and estuarine fortifications. The second phase assessed their vulnerability to sea-level rise, coastal flooding, and shoreline retreat. The study presents a methodological approach that provides local decision-makers with strategic guidance to enhance the protection and sustainable management of coastal heritage.