The holistic redevelopment including building, social, economic, cultural, design and sustainable elements leads to renewal in one of Europe’s oldest districts.

In the New Zone, facades were insulated with nationally-sourced cork. Existing windows were replaced with energy efficient windows. Innovative sustainable building techniques included pre-fabrication, which resulted in reduced water use, eliminated the need for on-site material processing and significant waste reduction. The metal components employed will be 100% recyclable. These buildings, optimized for sun exposure, will integrate a collective solar solution for hot water production. They also include a rainwater harvesting grid for the irrigation of plots, as well as gray water reuse systems for flushing cisterns. Technical measures were combined with resident engagement to encourage energy and water savings, while a PediBus and bike lane reduce car dependence. Rent was secured at 25% of a dwelling’s income, ensuring the renovations will not force residents out. New amenities include a community building, public pool, BMX track, free wireless access and improved public spaces.

Demolition of the Masonry Zone was necessary to construct 900 dwellings. By selling 400 it would finance the relocation of 500 families. Given the financial crisis, this model wasn’t feasible. The new solution involves the demolition of the 500 existing dwellings for the construction of 400 new ones.

The project contains more transferrable elements, covering an array of issues, than 1000 characters permits. Combining environmental sustainability goals and socioeconomic improvement, with an emphasis on limiting resident displacement is highly transferrable. Cork insulation, pilot tested in Boavista, has already been exported to Brazil and Tunisia, with further opportunity for transfer. The Coopetir project, which aimed to provide sustainability education and basic social service to the residents of the Boavista neighbourhood, has, for its exemplary and collaborative methodology, all the conditions to be replicated in other neighbourhoods.