Tagus River Banks Development

The competition brief asked for ideas for an area extended 24 kilometres along the river Tejo in Portugal.The project is based on the idea that the Beauty is already there. By defining ‘Rooms’ in the landscape the whole territory is connected in a succession of spaces. Paths cross these ‘Rooms’ and enhance special moments to enjoy the landscape. These moments form a network of architectural objects. We propose to use the river as a connecting element, where each room is marked by boat stations.

A living bridge connects the two towns of Tancos and Arripiado integrating different functions. As a living bridge it does not simply link the two urban settlements but also creates a new urban elongated piazza in the middle of the river. The living bridge gathers the functions of observation platform for the well-known Castle of Almourol (from the Temple Order), a café, a restaurant, an exhibition space and a small hotel.