Bairro das Terras da Costa

In the 21st century, 500 people – 100 of which are children – live without water or basic sanitation in an illegal settlement near the Costa da Caparica in the municipality of Almada, Lisbon. To confront this reality, the Gulbenkian Foundation will support a proposal to construct a Community Kitchen in the neighborhood (with bathrooms, a versatile living area for meetings and events, and a zone for laundry) to supplement the population’s basic needs.

Bairro das Terras da Costa began as a strategy to solve a public health threat that neglected fundamental human rights of the residents. The project involves the creation and participation of the community, ultimately aiming to break down previous prejudices held against ethnic groups living in the neighborhood. After decades of negligence, the municipality’s authority now recognizes the existence of this neighborhood and the urgent necessity to intervene.

Not only does this project highlight the innovative nature of architectural solutions, but also incorporates a small common network of its partners, who consist of voluntary organizations with the projects Warehouse, Fronteiras Urbanas (Urban Borders), and the Casa do Vapor collective.