Panagopoulos presentation - Keele University

11-07-2011 

Shrinking smart in small cities of 

Portugal 

Urban 

regeneration in 

small towns 

shrinking smart 

Abstract 

Introduction 

Abstract 

The present work aims to study the policies in different types of 

shrinking cities, based on comparative case studies from various small and 

large towns throughout Portugal. 

The impacts of shrinkage for urban and regional development that are 

caused by population losses will be identified focusing on different fields. 

Thomas Panagopoulos 

Director of Master in Landscape Architecture 

UNIVERSITY OF ALGARVE ‐ PORTUGAL 

The case of small 

towns in Algarve 

The case of Portimão 

city 

The case of Olhão city 

The case of Vila Real 

de Santo António city 

Conclusion 

The main objectives were: 

• Identify the challenges caused by shrinkage for urban development; 

• Develop a framework for understanding the challenges of development 

in different types of shrinking urban regions; 

• Understand the major strategies implemented by Portuguese central 

and local governments and identify their success 

Some policies are analysed: 

promotion of marriage numbers, 

secondary students increase, 

maintenance of health care services and 

creation of employment opportunities 

Introduction 

The industrial revolution led to the restructuring 

of urban centres, that suffered 

an exponential growth. 

Urban sprawl became a common 

phenomena, unbalancing ecosystems and 

creating the necessity to develop 

strategies to control sprawl. 

Urban containment became the main 

sustainable strategy of some cities. 

Urban sprawl became the main strategy of 

some others. 

Urban 


small towns 


Abstract 

Introduction 




city 




Conclusion 

In the second half of the twentieth century, a widespread industrial crisis, led to the 

decline of urban industrial areas, and the number of industrial cities lessened. 

Unable to compete in a global market, traditional industrial areas, became obsolete 

spaces, a “surplus” and stopped serving their production functions. 

The former industrial landscape, now obsolete, needs redevelopment or expansion 

and many times to be de‐contaminated, these landscapes are called Brownfields. 

Introduction 

Urban 


small towns 


Abstract 

In last decades, the phenomenon of shrinking cities has 

many examples in most developed countries. According to 

Wiechmann 54% of the European cities lost population in the 

period from 1996 to 2001. 

Introduction 




city 




Conclusion 

The term "shrinking" is often considered a death sentence for 

Small Towns 

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11-07-2011 

Urban shrinkage in the United States 2000-2004 

based on US Census data 

Lisbon is in the 10 cities with the highest relative loss of more than 

1.75% annually. 

Old industrialized cities (typical examples are Glasgow, St. Etienne, or 

Gelsenkirchen) has led to shrinking, in some ways similar to those in 

American metropolises like Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. 

Suburbanization, 

Deindustrialization, 

Demographic shrinkage (aging 

population), 

Post-fordist transformations (post socialist 

transformation). 

City cycle (Athens, Rome) 

Globalization 

 

 

According to Van den Berg (1982) cities undergo through a cycle 

with different stages such as: urbanization, suburbanization, deurbanization 

and re-urbanization, that belong to a natural process, 

related with the city history, but are also related with the city 

economic position within a global market (Sassen, 2001). 

Shrinking cities are also a product of globalization, with a global 

market, the number of industrial cities lessened due to a more 

competitive economy (Scott and Storper, 2003). 

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11-07-2011 

› Local governments by offering 

houses or other residential 

advantages to young couples, try 

to attract new inhabitants to those 

municipalities 

› This policy is not accompanied in 

most cases by other policies, 

namely policies that promote 

employment or avoid speculative 

rent estate activity 

• In Lisbon and Oporto cases, real 

property valuation forces 

households to search for houses in 

neighbouring municipalities, 

despite of job opportunities 

• Boticas, Vinhais e Marvão that 

faced a reduction in the property 

value, did not generate 

employment 

• Almeida faces a change on 

employment profile: industrial 

employment is in decline, being 

the major number of jobs offered 

in the primary sector which is 

often a seasonal activity, thus not 

ensuring permanent residence 

› Intends to give residents a reason to 

stay by guarantying jobs opportunities 

› Cases in which employment in the 

municipalities increased without 

containing the abandon of inhabitants 

• Job opportunities are mainly in primary 

and secondary sectors 

• A factor for the success of policies 

promoting local employment is the 

capability of resilience of each 

municipality for adapting from 

activities of primary and secondary 

sectors into tertiary sector activities 

› A policy that seems to retain economic 

activity in interior municipalities with less 

than 10 thousand inhabitants like 

Carrazeda de Ansiães, Oleiros, 

Almeida, Vila Velha de Rodão or 

Fronteira is the practice of exemption or 

of a reduced rate on income tax 

generated by business activity called 

“derrama” 

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Urban 


small towns 


Abstract 

The case of small towns in Algarve, Portugal 

Algarve industry was mostly related with the rich fishing resources and 

the food‐canning industry. After the entrance of Portugal to EU, with more 

strict environmental laws and the exponential tourism development and 

globalization processes, industrial activities declined, leaving industrial derelict 

areas.InthisarticlewewillmentionthreecasestudiesofAlgarvetownswith 

shrinking problems (Portimão, Olhão and Vila Real de Santo António) , and the 

options taken relatively to their obsolete industrial patrimony. 

Urban 


small towns 


Abstract 

The case of Portimão city (adaptive reuse of community icons ) 

During the 19 th and 20 th 

centuries, Portimão sardine 

canning industry flourished, and 

its industrial landscape establish 

a strong connection between the 

fishing port, the city and the 

Arade river. 

Introduction 



Introduction 



In 1960s, the industry collapsed, leaving several 

industrial facilities to abandonment on Arade 

riverside, but now, this whole area was recovered. 


city 


city 







Conclusion 

Conclusion 

As part of the riverside recovery an old canning 

factory, Feu Factory, was turned into a municipal 

museum, which opened on May 17 th 2008. 

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11-07-2011 

The case of Portimão city 

The case of Olhão city: Historic Preservation (building recycling) 

Urban 


small towns 


Abstract 

Introduction 



To view the museum the 

public can choose three different 

paths, the first one called “the 

origin and destiny of a 

community”, the second “the 

industrial life and the sea 

challenge” and the third one called 

“in deep water” is about Arade 

river and the ocean bottom. 

Urban 


small towns 


Abstract 

Introduction 



One of the canning 

industry factories in Olhão was 

the Ramirez factory, located 

near the port area and 

founded in 1936, that canned 

tuna in olive oil, sauces or 

brine. 


city 




Conclusion 

As part of the second path, 

the museum maintains the 

factory structure, showing its 

functions. 


city 




Conclusion 

As the canning industry 

in Olhão declined, this 

affected the Ramirez factory, 

that was sold to another 

canning company, from Vila 

Real de Santo António, José 

António Rita, Lda. This 

factory was recently 

rehabilitated 

and 

transformed into municipal 

auditorium. 

The case of Olhão city: Historic Preservation (building recycling) 

The case of Vila Real de Santo António city 

Urban 


small towns 


Abstract 

Introduction 



The building itself was not maintained, 

but as a respect for the place cultural 

heritage some cultural and architectural 

elements were identified and maintained, 

to transmit a sense of place. 

Urban 


small towns 


Abstract 

Introduction 



Located by the national border 

and near the sea, on the nineteenth 

century most of Vila Real de Santo 

António population depended on the 

tuna and sardine fishing and canning. 

As the canning industry declined, Vila 

Real de Santo António lost prosperity 

and now its economy mainly depends 

on tourism, and the old canning 

factories were left to derelict. 


city 


city 







Conclusion 

Conclusion 

Urban 


small towns 


Abstract 

Introduction 



The case of Vila Real de Santo António 

city 

The local government is planning to 

rehabilitate this derelict industrial area with 

residential buildings, a technological park 

and a green open space with leisure 

activities. 

Although, the presented project has no 

regard for the cultural heritage of that 

industrial landscape, neither for the cultural 

patrimony that all city buildings represent, it 

aims for some of the populations wishes. 


city 




Conclusion 

(font: http://www.cm‐vrsa.pt/NR/rdonlyres/BC871D11‐949B‐42E2‐8AEE‐6ED249BED810/0/1_planta_implanta%C3%A7%C3%A3o.pdf). 

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11-07-2011 

O programa 

O lugar 

- The intrvention area is between 2 

canning factory intalations, 

abandoned and degradeted, 

that incude a weltand, zone of 

salt marches and the Delta of rio 

Gilão. 

- Recuperar a zona industrial 

e área envolvente com o 

intuito de valorizar o 

património industrial, 

cultural e paisagístico. 

- Recuperar a galeria ripícola, 

visto que esta se reveste 

de extrema importância. 

- Recuperar o sapal, de modo 

a promover a 

manutenção da 

biodiversidade. 

- Recuperar as salinas 

inactivas de modo que 

evoluam novamente 

para sapal. 

- Conciliar e integrar as 

estruturas pré-existentes 

no novo desenho do 

espaço. 

Pretende-se, deste modo, 

que o parque 

proporcione diversas 

actividades de recreio e 

lazer a todas as faixas 

etárias, promovendo a 

qualidade estética e 

ambiental e as vivências 

sociais. 

The quarry of Braga transformation to Stadium for 

Euro 2004 

Cost 161 million euro 

The Braga Stadium was projected by the architect 

E. Souto Moura and constructed in a derelict quarry 

located in the urban area of Braga in the North of 

Portugal. 

Creation of multifunctional landscapes, which is 

the example of the Braga Municipal Stadium, 

which was created on the mountainside by 

levelling down a quarry of the mountain Monte 

Castro and served as a hosting venue for the Euro 

2004 tournament. 

The project offers an unusual and innovative frame 

and his architecture is a sequence of sustainable 

decisions which should be listed and analysed. 

The stadium is just a part of the sports complex built in 

an area occupying more than 74 acres. A space that 

includes the stadium, Olympic pools, and several other 

multifunctional facilities all linked by numerous accesses 

where it is possible to contact with nature, feeling the 

spirit of the old landscape – the quarry. 

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11-07-2011 

The tiers go across the entire playing field and resemble 

the ancient and rusticated bridges that were constructed 

by the Incas. 

The vegetation 

was used to 

increase the 

quality of the 

place, by creating 

alignments that 

direct people to 

the different areas 

of the project. 

Park Tejo-Trancão is one of the best examples of a postindustrial 

landscape reclamation project ever realized in 

Portugal. 

It is located in the oriental part of Lisbon, in the right margin of 

the river Tejo, in a transition area between the municipal 

districts i t of Lisbon and Loures. 

Before being a park, this area was composed by several 

industrial structures (a landfill, scraps, a sewage treatment 

plant and some obsolete industrial buildings. The high indexes 

of contamination and degradation of this landscape, the 

proximity of the Natural Reserve of the Estuary of Tejo and the 

intention to develop the world exposition Expo'98 constituted 

decisive arguments for the intervention in this specific area. 

With approximated 90ha, the park links physics and 

thematically with the Park Expo'98. 

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11-07-2011 

The shrinking city syndrome is leaving planners and 

city officials with, among other things, the 

challenge of preserving and reusing buildings with 

architectural and cultural interest. 

A regenerated former mining settlement in Gelsenkirchen. 

 

 

 

From 146 active mines in 1960 only 7 remain today 

From 4.5 milion people only 2 milion 

From 607.000 miners only 39.000 today 

1992 1998 2003 

The Zollverein industrial complex 

in Ruhr-Germany consists of a 

historical coal-mining site 

infrastructure, with some 20thcentury 

buildings of outstanding 

architectural merit due to 

application of the design 

concepts of the Modern 

Movement in architecture in the 

industrial context. 

 

It constitutes t remarkable 

material evidence of the 

evolution and decline of an 

essential industry over the past 

150 years. 

It has been inscribed into the 

UNESCO list of World Heritage 

Sites since December 14, 2001 

and is one of the anchor points 

of the European Route of 

Industrial Heritage. 

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11-07-2011 

The Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park combines the industrial 

cultural heritage, Nature and a Light-show. 

What the visitor finds here is a massive industrial wasteland, 

measuring 200 hectares, which has been transformed over a 

period of more than ten years into a multifunctional park. 

At the centre of the park there is a decommissioned 

metalworks, the old industrial facilities of which are today 

being put to a variety of different uses. 

The former factory buildings have been converted to 

accommodate cultural and corporate functions; an old 

gasholder has become the biggest artificial diving centre in 

Europe; alpine gardens have been created in the ore 

storage bunkers, and a blast furnace has been developed 

into a panoramic tower. 

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Conclusion 

Urban 


small towns 


Abstract 

Introduction 




city 




Conclusion 

Urbanization is the main driving force of environmental change and “urban 

sprawl” become the model of urban development worldwide in the last 

decades before it blamed for many social and environmental problems. 

The “Smart Growth” and “New Urbanism” movements have made strong 

appeals to restrain city expansion. 

In this work we compare small size towns of Algarve with shrinking 

neighbour problems that choose to rehabilitate derelict areas instead of 

expanding into green areas in their effort to be appropriate with the 

sustainable city development and smart growth principles. 

Some of the study towns of Algarve respect and reuse their recent history 

facilities, some others choose to ignore it. The project always gave an added 

value. We compare with international projects that had the ability to attract 

large investment. 

Public officials, planners and residents often try to "solve" the condition of 

shrinking, applying the same tool kit used for growth, with little success. Our 

general conclusion is that providing alternative multifunctional solution for the 

obsolete industrial patrimony may award us for a long term sustainable 

solution. 

 

 

8th WSEAS International Conference 

on 

Energy, Ecosystems, Environment and 

Sustainable Developmend (EEESD´12) 

5th WSEAS International Conference on 

Landscape Architecture (LA´12) 

Jon Burley – School of Planning, Design, and 

Construction, Michigan State University, 

USA. 

Chris Zegras, MIT, USA. “Strategic t Options 

for Integrating Transportation Innovations 

and Urban Revitalization” MIT-Portugal 

Program 

Prof. Pedro Abramo - Universidade Federal 

do Rio de Janeiro, Inst. Pesquisa e 

Panejamento Urbano e Regional, Brazil. 

The conference will be held at the 

Auditorium of the Faculty of Economics 

University of Algarve, Campus de 

Gambelas, in Faro. 

 

Hotel Eva 

* * * * 

Address: 

Av. da República,1 

8000-078 Faro 

Phone: +351 289 001 000 

Fax: +351 289 001 002 

Email: eva@tdhotels.pt 

Site: www.tdhotels.pt 

Downtown 

Room Prices 

Single 93.00 € 

Double 109.00 € 

11

11-07-2011 

12

Panagopoulos presentation - Keele University

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