Beach Redevelopment in Porto do Son

Winner of the European Prize for Urban Public Space 2024 in Seafronts Category

Located in the town of Porto do Son in Spain, this urban redevelopment project rectifies the previous poor relationship between the port and civic activities as well as enhances direct contact between town and sea.

Design Objectives

The project had a twofold objective, considering the diversity of the Porto do Son coastline. The first was to create a system of controlled dunes with native vegetation between the park and the beach. The idea was to bring nature to the seafront, which had previously been dominated by a strip of pavement and a wall. The second was to improve access to the beach and resolve the conflicts between the port activities and the growing commercial and residential development.

Landscape Design

The project creates a transitional stretch of land that would act both as a protective barrier and a link, identifying them as dunes. The morphology of a dune system was recreated by depositing fine sand to form mounds in two staggered rows. Native plant species such as marram grass were planted to stabilise the dunes over time and create a dynamic balance. Being a transitional space, the new dunes required well-thought access points and therefore, three wooden walkways were built to connect the urban spaces with the park.

Urban Regeneration

In the port area, the project aim is to improve the access to the water as well as propose a new Port Services Centre. The design seeks to create a cohesive space that restores the connection between the historic centre and the port, while separating the main road from the seafront. Near the market, a wooden structure serves as the town’s old drying racks for fishing nets, while two new exterior spaces -one of stone, the other of earth and trees- act as transitional spaces that lead to a car park and the new Port Services Centre, which features views towards Monte Louro.

This small stretch of coastline has become a catalyst for wider change, improving environmental quality and access to the beach as well as raising public awareness regarding urban space and coastline conditions and challenges.