URBAN DESIGN PROJECT FOR THE NEW SQUARE OF SAINT ANTOINE’S CONVENT AND ADJACENT AREAS
URBAN DESIGN
Year / 2004 . Location / Loulé _ Portugal . Project Area / 8000 sqm . Status / not constructed
The 16th century Saint Antoine’s convent is located in a highly neglected area near the West exit of the city of Loulé. Every year thousands of people gather to see a local religious celebration as the image of Our Lady of Compassion is brought from a chapel in a hill nearby down to the city. The building and the surroundings are in need of an urban design project that would requalify this part of the city.
The concept of this urban design plan was based on creating a square that would enhance and integrate the convent in a leisure area as well as to define all aspects of new buildings surrounding this landmark. The plan also intended to link the convent area (square) to the ancient path up to the chapel of Our Lady of Compassion and redesign the street course in doing so. An amphitheater culminates the end of the path in order to allow people to face the chapel during the religious celebrations.