IN-PERSON Lisbon Livable Cities. Section B
Abstract
The project “Nós Vamos” is created by Coolabora and funded by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, consisting in the experimentation of methodologies to promote citizenship and democratic literacy, acting in two neighbourhoods in Covilhã. Focusing in Bairro de Santo António, with partners CooLabora, the Municipality of Covilhã, University of Beira Interior and Grupo Desportivo e Recreativo Vitória de Santo António, the community reaction to their urban living experience, when questioned on what could be improved, can be emphasized within a space-time-use manifest. Space: Space is no longer accepted as an empty and undefined void generated by an incoherent crossroad, circumscribed by what seems to be a casuistic building placement, with size and scale relations distorting the imagery of meaningfulness in the city landscape, as so well described in The Image of the City (Lynch, 1960). Time: Time is a spatial relation and implies connectivity. The smallest distance between two points is not always a straight line, but the least time and effort consuming distance. Space must be outlined to reduce the time, and must work with time, because the notion of time is relative, as the Theory of Relativity (Einstein, 1905-1915). Use: Use is dynamic and based on users’ perception of need or want. The same space can be meeting point, bus stop, football field, resting point, car parking, festivities venue and the outside, it can be all or nothing, at once or throughout, giving a multipurpose use to a transformative space, as stated in The Architecture of the City (Rossi, 1966).
Carolina Batista: M.D. in Architecture (Instituto Superior Técnico, 2008) with dissertation themed “The City of the Future: What Sustainability? Case Study: Masdar, the city in the desert.” Works for the Municipality of Covilhã since 2011 in licencing and urbanism, participating in multidisciplinary teamwork related to legislation making and monuments classification proceedings. Recently participated in a round table dedicated to women as architecture professional´s promoted by the Order of Architects and started a radio programme called Covilhã Feminine. Her worked for the thesis focuses on urban disruptions.
Rita Ochoa: International PhD. in Public Space and Urban Regeneration (University of Barcelona, 2011) with a grant from the Science ant Technology Foundation, Portugal; Scientific coordinator of CIAUD Research Center at UBI and member of the research group URBinLAB Urbanism & Territorial Dynamics. Recent work as coordinator of the exploratory project “Intermittent City. Temporary Uses and Sharing Practices to support an Adaptive Urban Space”;
PhD in Sociology (UBI). Post-doc in Project Management with the Economic Faculty at University of Coimbra. Co-founder and coordinator at CooLabora – Social Intervention through innovative strategies to promote equal opportunities, civic participation, education and training and social inclusion.
Graça Rojão: Associate Professor with Habilitation in Design at UBI, PhD in Design course coordinator and senior researcher at UBI’s R&D unit, LabCom/iA*. Habilitation in Design (IADE, 2020), Postdoc in Design and Innovation for Social Change (Cyprus University of Technology, 2019), PhD in Prod Engineering / Industrial Design (UBI, 2008), a Post-Graduation in Product Design (Glasgow School of Art / CPD, 1996), and BA in Industrial Design (IADE, 1995). Research in Design, Creativity & Innovation, Design Education, Social Innovation, and Sustainability.
Ana Margarida Ferreira: Architect and founder of the Prólogo Arquitectura studio in 2012. PhD from the Faculty of Architecture (University of Lisbon). Researcher at CIAUD leading the WATER project . Assistant Professor on the Industrial Design course at the Faculty of Arts and Letters of the UBI.
Luís Gingas: Architect, university professor and researcher. Postgrad studies in the Development of Human Settlements in the 3rd World by ICHaB-ETSAM, a professional training in Humanitarian Shelter Coordination by IFRC, UNHCR, and Oxford Brookes University. Research in the practicalities of architecture, urban planning, and humanitarian action.
Maria Neto
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Friday 11th July, 2025