Galp Energia’s former Matosinhos refinery will turn into a green and innovative eco-district with housing, a university campus, a large park, and various facilities. For this large-scale transformation, the Portuguese energy company launched an international design competition, with a jury that was advised by experts from Harvard University and the University of Porto. The winning design team, consisting of MVRDV, OODA and LOLA, will develop this urban renewal project as a new eco-city within the city.
The refinery in Matosinhos near Porto, established in 1970 and important for the local economy, was decommissioned mid-2021. The intention now is to turn the site into an innovation district, making better use of its natural location, and preserving part of its industrial heritage. Starting points for the master plan are far-reaching greening, connection with the surroundings, and sustainability. Inserting green infrastructure and restoring the relationship with the adjacent dune landscape are important principles of the plan. Part of the industrial heritage will be given a new purpose, thus creating a bridge between the past and the future.
The MVRDV-OODA-LOLA design team, will collaborate with renowned engineering firms Thornton Tomasetti, A400 and program advisor LiveWork. Around 25 urbanists, landscape architects and engineers from these six firms will develop the vision into a more detailed masterplan in the upcoming 12 months. In this period the new eco-city will be developed in phases in close cooperation with the municipality of Matosinhos, CCDR-N and the University of Porto.
Client: Galp
I.c.w.: MVRDV, OODA, Thornton Tomasetti, A400, LiveWork
Drone photo: OODA
