Can Marvila dream of greener, more welcoming public spaces? Rés-do-Chão believes so and has launched the debate in three neighborhoods in the parish.
Residents of Marvila - specifically the Alfinetes, Salgadas and Marquês de Abrantes neighborhoods - were challenged to look at the streets and squares in a different way: through current photographs and illustrations that show how these spaces can be improved, with areas for sitting, playing, trees, benches and bike paths. The initiative was promoted by the Rés-do-Chão architecture studio, which has a long history of working in those neighborhoods, in partnership with the 4Crescente Community Group, which brings together local residents and partners.
Between July and August conversations with more than 70 residents of these three neighborhoods, between street interviews and sessions at the Marvila Library. To stimulate debate, the following were presented illustrations that proposed new versions of three public spaces, focused on accessibility, inclusion, mobility and environmental sustainability. The images, which are purely inspirational, served as a basis for giving free rein to the imagination and thinking up alternatives with more trees, benches, shade and seating areas.
Alternatives for the widening of Rua Dinah Silveira de Queiroz, in the Salgadas neighborhood
Alternatives for the space on Rua Alberto José Pessoa, in the Marquês de Abrantes neighborhood
Alternatives for a square adjacent to Rua Alberto José Pessoa, in the Marquês de Abrantes neighborhood
The results confirm a collective desire: more green spaces, more benches and shade, cleanliness and improved pedestrian mobility. But also a feeling of disbelief at the attention of Lisbon City Hall. According to initiative report, 67.81% of participants are dissatisfied with public spaces and 76.81% feel that their opinions have been ignored by the municipality over the last 10 years. The majority advocate more investment in maintenance and cleaning (81.4%), street furniture (81.4%), accessibility (72.9%) and green elements (67.1%). “In general, they think that there needs to be more investment in various aspects and characteristics of the public spaces in these neighborhoods, in order to make them more pleasant and welcoming: from the type of street furniture, to the quantity and maintenance of green spaces, to the issue of cleanliness and ease of access and mobility.”, reads the document released by Rés-do-Chão last September.
For the first floor, the public spaces are essential to the identity of neighborhoods, but in Marvila “were built in a less continuous and integrated way, creating divisions between populations”. Even so, there is an opportunity for change, with new public and private investments planned or underway in the area. The studio stresses that the involvement of residents is “fundamental” in this process.
On September 23, a meeting was held between residents and candidates from the Viver Lisboa (PS, Livre, BE, PAN), Por Ti, Lisboa (PSD, CDS) and CDU (PCP, PEV) coalitions. Everyone recognized that Marvila continues to be a forgotten territory and stressed the importance of listening to those who live there. Margarida Marques, from Rés-do-Chão, regretted that many residents had lost hope in participatory processes after seeing their proposals ignored over the years.
