From planning to transformation
— by Filipa Serôdio Pinheiro
I participated in the Urbanists Congress, organised by APU – Portuguese Association of Urbanists, which took place on 30 October at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto. I left with a strong sense that there are possible and inspiring pathways to address today’s major territorial challenges: housing, land value enhancement, and the climate crisis.
One of the most striking moments was the lecture by Paulo Fernandes, Mayor of Fundão, who presented his municipality as an example of how housing programmes can drive territorial development. His pragmatic and highly charismatic vision is a living testament that inland regions can be spaces of opportunity.
In the face of the housing crisis, looking towards inland areas is not evading the problem; it is embracing a sustainable alternative. With successful cases such as Fundão—which has distinguished itself by attracting tech companies, supporting the settlement of young people, and investing in urban regeneration—we see that this alternative is real.
I also want to highlight Pedro Teiga’s presentation on the ecological restoration of the Este River in Braga. This project reminds us that so-called NBS (Nature-Based Solutions) are often a return to the ancestral wisdom of our communities. In this case, returning the river to the city is not merely a technical intervention; it is an act of reconciliation between urbanism and ecology.
The forest land operation in Pampilhosa da Serra, presented by Rui Simão, is another remarkable example of how small inland municipalities can lead innovative strategies for land consolidation, combating fragmentation, and preventing fire risk—a replicable model of national relevance.
Equally noteworthy is the Agroparque Terras da Costa e do Mar in Almada, an initiative presented and developed by Duarte Mata, which demonstrates that the integration of sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and local economic development is both possible and desirable. By linking production, innovation, and territorial management, this project points the way towards a new, more resilient rural model that is attractive to younger generations.
I must also mention Architect Teresa Andresen’s intervention, which addressed with clarity and urgency the role of land-use planning and management of rural land in the context of the climate emergency. Her advocacy for landscape as a collective and structuring asset underscores the importance of planning with sensitivity and responsibility.
It is important to note that all interventions throughout the congress were clear examples of how good territorial planning can effectively translate into concrete and positive changes in local and national development, proving that knowledge, will, and practice exist on the ground to transform our territory with vision and equity.
This congress was, more than a space for reflection, a call to action. Planning is not just regulation: it is strategic transformation. It is about providing communities with the tools to resist, adapt, and thrive. And the inland regions, so often overlooked, are a central piece of this equation.
Congratulations to APU for organising such a relevant congress.