S5: Lisbon history: architecture and urban planning

Question 1

Administrative division and Lisbon Metropolitan Area

Answer 1

Lisbon has 9 municipalities:
5 zonas:
1. Centro Historico (baixa, cais, nere vid vattnet)
2. Norte (utanför Lissabon)
3. Oriente (bortanför Alfama)
4. Centro (intendente, runtomkring)
5. Ocidente (santos, Belem)

Most people live in the Norte

12% Foreigner residents in Lisbon

Question 2

Medieval (medeltiden) and Renaissance Lisbon: main characteristics

Answer 2

Kingdom’s capital court established in Lisbon 1255

Expanded to beyond its walls to Baixa and Alfama.

King Fernando

Characteristics:

• Narrow and crooked streets
• Alleyways: shared by relatives or neighbours
• Occupation of the street as an extension of indoor space

Especially found at Alfama and Mouraria

Question 3

The 1755 Lisbon earthquake and urban restructuring

Answer 3

By tsunamis and fires

Affected the whole downtown area, the Castle quarters and Carmo

17-20k buildings were destroyed

–> Pombaline rebuilding: Baixa and Rossio :
Straight aligned streets
Large streets for easy circulation
Large central plazas

Question 4

Modern urban growth and new waves of urban planning (20th-21st century)

Answer 4

Growth to the surrounding areas, from Marquês de Pombal towards Campo Grande

New wave of urban planning 1940’s: rational, classical models, feeling of rule, order, sense

Urbanisation of Alvalade 1950-1960

Metropolization, end of 19th century

Bridge 1966

Question 5

Urban decay, rehabilitation and gentrification

Answer 5

Many abandoned buildings can be explained by rent control and inheritance laws.

Tourism and local lodging also turned over the situation, but favoured the processes of speculaiton by directing urban regeneration towards commercial activities