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Almada Docks, PortugalThe work on the Almada Docks in Lisbon, Portugal is one of themost extensive dockland regeneration projects within Europe,covering a site of 150 hectares. Almada’s rebirth will create a city oftwo margins, centralising and creating a feature of the River Tagus.Atkins is developing an overall urban design masterplan and urbanplanning framework based on sustainable urban design principlesand the detailed investigation, identification, and remediation ofthe contamination issues for the site prior to development.The mixed-use masterplan will reinvent the Lisbon ‘praca’ to createstreets and public space which are human, lively, intimate andsecure. As the site is exposed, buildings will be used to create awell-tempered environment, giving the pedestrian priority overthe car and creating a place that works for people and fosters aninclusive community.The project methodology is a model of best practice. Initialtechnical studies have been carried out in parallel with thedesign process, ensuring articulation and integration between alldisciplines and all areas of understanding.All baseline studies have been carried out by discipline specialists,both local and international. Each can stand alone as relevantand up to date pieces of research in their fields. Internationalbenchmarking has also been important.Community involvement throughout the project has been central,with a whole range of initiatives to ensure everyone who wishesto can take an active part in the development of the masterplan.The process has, in effect, been a collective education forconsultants, client and community. It has resulted in a genuinedepth of understanding, by all involved, of philosophical andsocial constraints and opportunities, matched with environmental,geological and geotechnical knowledge.Combine this comprehensive local understanding and sense ofplace with the international expertise of the consortium andthe result is what Almada Municipality describe as a reality; anambitious, commercially viable and sustainable vision for Almada.Images provided by Richard Rogers Partnership