RedFlagMagazine

Names: Mafalda and Filipa

Location: Porto and Guimarães, Portugal

The project “Retornáveis-Manobrar Ruínas” (Ruins Back On The Move), based in the North of Portugal in the city of Porto and Guimarães, embraces spaces and buildings that have been abandoned and puts them back into use. Some have been partially demolished, others have just fallen to ruin by years of neglect, but most have historical significance.

The  mission of Retornáveis-Manobrar Ruínas is to transform the abandoned and neglected into something beautiful and useful again and to show the importance of public spaces for the quality of life in urban areas. Through minor and superficial interventions the spaces are reopened to the people of the city who are also encouraged to channel their creativity to enhance the spaces as well.

These interventions and revivals aim at creating a fluid space with an ever growing flexibility and potential. The first step is to clear the area and check the safety and stability of architectural structures that are present. From the very beginning neighboring citizens are invited to get involved. It is the citizens that get to decide the plans for the design interventions and what the space will be used for.  Many areas have become a kitchen gardens for an entire neighborhood. While many people volunteered the children have been the most active.
The success of this project is due to its ability to create synergies, encounters and discussions, debates and proposals for cooperation. The city wants to move, it needs a space to do it, an open, flexible and dynamic space; a quality space.

The project involved the local population. The citizens of the neighborhood embraced enthusiastically and responsibly the realization and maintenance of the spaces and they showed that the city has the will and the means to improve its appearance and the quality of its life even with small actions.