Urbanism and Landscape course, A.Y. 2023-24, prof.

Werther Guidi Nissim, Maria Chiara Pastore,

MSc in Landscape Architecture. Land Landscape with Lucia Ludovici
Heritage
Stud: Ana_Pontes_Group.10

SERRALVES PARK
PORTO, PORTUGAL

PROFILE IN BRIEF
Serralves Park, located in
Geographical 41.15802033180002, Porto, Portugal, is a remarkable
Coordinates -8.657050338636235 expression of landscape design
that harmoniously integrates natural
Type of intervention Park’s Strategic Blueprint for Sustai- and architectural elements. Part of
nable Biodiversity, Cultural Engage- the Serralves Foundation, the park
ment, and Environmental stands out for its modern design,
Climatic context with the Museum of Contemporary
Mediterranean climate
Art designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira.
Area (ha or sqm)
18 ha With themed gardens and a rich
botanical diversity, the park offers
Stage of development Finished (all project completed) an aesthetic and educational
experience. Water features, such as
Duration (1932 - 1940) lakes, contribute to the serenity of the
environment. In addition, the space
Private or public area Public area is used for open-air cultural events,
adding dynamism to its function.
Stakeholders involved Jacques Gréber Sustainably managed, Serralves
Park is an admirable example of how
architecture, nature and culture can
https://www.serralves.pt/institucional-serral- coexist synergistically in an urban
Links and references ves/parque_historia/ environment.
PROJECT SCOPE
Located right in the very heart of Porto, Serralves Park extends beyond Casa de Serralves
across 18 hectares, including gardens, copses, a rose garden and a Romantic lake, to provide
the ideal refuge for anyone wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Beginning
at Casa de Serralves, headquarters of the Foundation of the same name, there is the formal
garden, “one of the most notable examples of landscape gardening of the 20th century. It
stretches over 500 metres towards the river Douro. At the far end there is a stairway leading
down to a Romantic lake set on a lower level. It was designed between 1932 and 1940 by
Jacques Gréber (1882-1962) a French architect and landscape gardener who established a
reputation in the United States and Canada designing French-style gardens for the wealthy.
The Park has various points of interest, including the rose garden (currently undergoing
restoration), the Relógio de Sol (Sundial) Garden, the Camellia Garden (where aromatic herbs
and plants are on sale), in addition to the other well-tended areas of the park.

URBAN FORESTRY STRATEGIES AND DESIGN FEATURES

Urban forestry focuses on the cultivation and management of trees and vegetation in urban
areas to enhance environmental quality, aesthetics, and overall well-being. Here are key
strategies and design features implemented in the project: Tree Selection and Planting: Careful
selection of tree species based on adaptability to the local climate and soil conditions; Green
Infrastructure: Integration of green infrastructure elements, such as vegetated swales and
permeable surfaces, to manage stormwater runoff and improve water quality; Biodiversity
Enhancement: Incorporation of diverse plant species to support local ecosystems and enhance
biodiversity; Creation of habitat-rich areas to attract and support wildlife, contributing to
urban ecological balance. Sustainable Tree Care Practices: Implementation of sustainable
tree care practices, including proper pruning, mulching, and pest management. Urban Heat
Island Mitigation: Strategic placement of trees to provide shade and reduce the urban heat
island effect, contributing to a cooler microclimate. Climate-Responsive Design: Selection
of plant species resilient to the local climate, considering factors such as temperature,
precipitation, and seasonal changes; Design features that promote natural ventilation and
climate adaptability; The pre-exiting drainage system on the site is kept unchanged, and
additional bio-swales are added into the fields and slope to catch and filtrate the storm water
runoff and be used for irrigation of the crops when needed.

GOVERNANCE MODEL
The Park’s programming is based on a strategy based on the development of programme
cycles that are intended to be annual. Playfulness and learning are affirmed as structuring
and complementary areas of the programme of activities for the public, promoting activities
in Serralves, as well as outside, that encourage reflection, perception and cognition of the
landscape as a spatially and temporally evolving cultural construction, along with its informed
enjoyment. At the same time, socio-pedagogical training activities are organised for specific
audiences as part of the Serralves Foundation’s activities. Serralves is a unique reference point
for landscape heritage in Portugal, synthesising and symbolising learning and knowledge
of the conditions of transformation of the territory, in space and time, in a cultural context:
Portugal and the 19th and 20th centuries. This project makes a significant contribution to
educating and raising awareness in society about safeguarding the landscape heritage, as
well as the need to reconcile the heritage space with the cultural manifestations and processes
determined by contemporary society, without jeopardising its integrity and permanence.

SHRUB AND TREE SPECIES

One of the qualities of Serralves Park is the diversity of its tree and shrub heritage, which is
made up of native and exotic vegetation and includes around 4,000 specimens of woody
plants, representing around 200 species and varieties (Serralves, 2011). The native vegetation
includes some rare species, such as the Yew, and others that are representative of the
Portuguese flora, such as the maritime pine, the stone pine, the chestnut tree and the cork
oak. Of the shrubs, the Pirliteiro, the Folhado and the Aveleira stand out.

KEYWORDS
#Urban forestry #Biodiversity conservation #Community engagement #localspecies