Terceiro Torrao

Terceiro Torrao, The Third Chunk, is a new mixed tenure neighbourhood on the south coast of the River Tagus. It is home to a variety of residents who previously faced climatic, political and/or economic displacement namely; the informal community of Segundo Torrao, The Second Chunk, and marginalised city dwellers.

This project addresses the vulnerability of displacement through the development of a masterplan and a specific building design. Situated in 2050, the project covers the impacts of climate migration, Lisbon’s housing crisis and cultural mixing on both the physical landscape and human sensibility. Working across this array of scales and time frames, Terceiro Torrao strives to embrace the diversities of its inhabitants.

The masterplan takes precedent of the present context’s urban grain, namely Lisbon’s intimate cobbled pathways and Segundo Torrao’s informal neighbourhoods, to create climatically and culturally appropriate spaces. In the adoption of this strategy, principle housing typologies are employed to reflect the population and activities within. These distinctions are visible in the overall masterplan layout.

Within the masterplan, the focus is on the courtyard typology phase, ‘The Plots’. Following on from the urban grain, an irregular parcel geometry is used to create intimate and unique pockets of space between the built ordered forms. The irregularity of sizes encourages different forms and materials within the overall masterplan and lends itself to a diverse landscape, mirroring the ambience of an informal settlement.

Scaling down to the design of the individual housing block, courtyards are used to blend the transition from public to private space. The courtyards created are quiet and cool and play contrast to the larger, lush landscaped spaces of the overall masterplan.

Underpinning the entire project is the environmental strategy and the mitigation of affects caused by global temperature rises. Within the block, there are four distinct wall typologies comprising of locally sourced rammed earth and timber pine. Where temperatures can reach above 40c in the summer months, these walls are key in the support for comfortable habitable environments involving natural ventilation and suitable lighting, acoustics, heating and cooling. Green roofs, rainwater harvesting, grey-water collection and solar panels also support efficient usage within the building.

Across the site, further environmental tactics are used to create a resilient and caring environment. Varying coastal defence conditions, recreational zones and rainwater management strategies are celebrated and in doing so, the entire scheme becomes part of the ecosystem in which it sits.

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