Fig.MI.P.PO.01; Authors Own, 'Map of Porto'

PORTO

Community Innitiatives - Abdu Mahdi - Governance - Luca Sode - Collective Preparedness - Miruna Georgescu - Urban Healthcare - Bota Issatayeva -

41.1579° N, 8.6291° W

SIZE: 41.42 km²

POPULATION: 252,687

POP. DENSITY: 6,100 people/km²

URBAN CLASSIFICATION (people/km²)

HYPER URBAN AREA (≥15,000)

DENSE URBAN AREA (1,500-14,999)

URBAN CLUSTER (300-1,499)

RURAL SETTLEMENT (50-299)

SPARSE RURAL (10-49)

REMOTE (1-9)

WILDERNESS (<1)

*BASED ON DEGURBA (EU Degree of Urbanisation) DATA

KEY ISSUES

Gentrification, Rising Cost of Living and Loss of Agency for Locals

Healthcare Inequalities, lack of healthcare infrastructure and access, medical staff shortage

Global Technological Investments in Porto- Technology Transforming Research, Climate Injustice, Education and Activism

Preparedness for Climate-Related Hazards such as Flooding and Overheating

Why Porto?

The city is a tourist hotspot facing significant challenges, including climate pressures and gentrification. Our studio investigates why displacement occurs within a historic urban fabric and how this can be mitigated.

Our Blog Post about our Trip to Porto

Overview Analysis

Much like the rest of Europe, parties further to the right of the political spectrum in Portugal have gained more momentum in recent years. The far-right "Chega" (Change) party made significant gains in the most recent general election, with the centre-left Socialist Party losing ground.

In Porto, this reflects a shift in views around immigration, tourism and national identity, as well as a significantly more polarising political discourse around how the city should be run.

(Portugal-National parliament voting intention. Politico, 2025)

Fig.MI.P.PO.12; 'May 2025 Election Results, (Portugal-National parliament voting intention. Politico, 2025)

Since the 2020 pandemic, Porto has recovered its social and economic condition well: The Porto Metropolitan Area now produces around €40 billion in wealth, equivalent to 16.2% of Portugal’s national GDP, with foreign investment and tourism fuelling this growth (Porto Municipal Council, Sustainable Development Report 2023, 2023). In 2023, nearly 6,000 jobs were created through Foreign Direct Investment, while the “Porto Leading Investors” programme generated over €2 billion in national production. Local policies in Porto also actively support scale-ups, digital innovation, and international collaboration (Porto Municipal Council, Sustainable Development Report 2023, 2023).

Fig.MI.P.PO.11; Authors Own, 'Portos Contribution to GDP', based on, (Porto Municipal Council, Sustainable Development Report, 2023)

Porto’s historic centre- along with the Luis I bridge and the Monastery of Serra Do Pilar- has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, recognised for its outstanding urban landscape and 2,000 years of continuous history. Its preservation is guided by a comprehensive World Heritage Management Plan, which ensures protection of Porto’s unique architectural and cultural identity (World Heritage, 2018).

Fig.MI.P.PO.05; Authors Own, 'Photograph of Porto Bridge'

Fig.MI.P.PO.06; Authors Own, 'UNESCO Boundary'

Porto has an ageing population, and is home to more women than men.

Porto's population is increasing: partly due to new births and notably because of an increasing number of expatriates from a wide range of countries, encouraged by national policies which aim to boost economic growth by attracting international business. For example, a "golden visa" program, allowing wealthy people to gain residency or citizenship by making substantial investments in Portugal.

(Alex Ledsom "Portugal Golden Visa Reigns In 2025, But Greece Gains Momentum", Forbes 2025).

Porto’s growing international presence is controversial. It brings economic growth and lively tourist areas, but also raises questions around gentrification and the loss of local character.

For a closer look at how these changes are affecting residents in Porto’s urban centre, read the “Urban Displacement” section below.

Demographic info: Instituto Nacional de Estatística Portugal (2021)

Percentage of Porto's residents born in Portugal

Fig.MI.P.PO.07; Authors Own, 'Porto Age Ranges', based on, (Demographic info: Instituto Nacional de Estatística Portugal, 2021)

Fig.MI.P.PO.08; Authors Own, ''Gender Split', based on, (Demographic info: Instituto Nacional de Estatística Portugal ,2021)

Fig.MI.P.PO.09; Authors Own, ''Percentage of Portos Residents Born in Portugal', based on, (Demographic info: Instituto Nacional de Estatística Portugal, 2021)

Fig.MI.P.PO.02; Authors Own, 'Porto Topography and UNESCO Boundary'

Porto sits within the valley of the Douro River. The river shapes how the city is read and navigated, and is most vividly experienced at places like the Ribeira waterfront and the Luís I Bridge. This steep valley landscape is felt throughout the city, with many buildings designed with entrances on multiple levels to adapt to the terrain.

Fig.MI.P.PO.03; Authors Own, 'Photograph of Porto'

Fig.MI.P.PO.04; Authors Own, 'Porto River Topography'

In 2018, Porto's mayor Rui Moreira enacted a program to renovate several buildings in the historic heart of Porto as social housing- a conservation initiative designed to preserve both the city's architecture as well as its social fabric:

"In the period of 30 years, the Historical Centre had lost 40% of its population.

Those who were left, were really there because they had no means to escape. How can we solve this?

We started slowly to buy up old buildings in the historic centre, and make small refurbishments. We now have about 13,000 council houses in the city of Porto. We tried to identify who are the people who were originally from these neighbourhoods and started working with them, and asking if they wanted to go back.”

-Mayor Rui Moreira, 2018 interview with IMCL

Fig.MI.P.PO.10; Authors Own, 'Social Housing Renovation' based on, (Management Plan and Governance Model for the Historic Centre of Porto, 2021)

"The Management Plan and Governance Model for the Historic Centre of Porto" was then implemented in 2021. (Management Plan and Governance Model for the Historic Centre of Porto: the tool to preserve cultural heritage, Porto Municipal Council 2021). Its 4 key outlines, according to Pedro Braganha, the city's Councillor for Urbanism, are as follows:

1: Heritage

To provide safeguard and promotion of the tangible and intangible heritage, through sustainable rehabilitation, integrated urban management and the empowerment, recognition and dissemination of the outstanding asset.

2: Population, Housing and Communities

To increase the resident population and the levels of dwelling comfort, and the strengthen community values.

3: Economy

To promote diversity, inclusion and economic sustainability, as well as the promotion of creativity and innovation. A key focus on inclusive and sustainable tourism.

4: Environment and Mobility

To improve mobility and strengthen environmental sustainability, in order to increase resilience.

Since these plans were enacted, much construction behind Porto's tiled facades can be seen underway across the city. However, not much up-to-date information about these programs can be found, and concerns about gentrification among the city's locals are palpable in conversation.

Porto's Vulnerabilities

Climate pressures amplify the other challenges that Porto's infrastructure and residents face. Droughts and rising temperatures disproportionately affect elderly populations and low-income households, while incidents of flooding have increased in frequency in recent years. Major floods have affected Porto at least once a year, every year since 2023, with the most recent being in October 2025.

Heavy Rainfall in Porto, October 2025

“We registered 68 incidents, most of which were flooding of public roads and structures in the Porto Metropolitan Area. No casualties or serious damage due to the rain were recorded.”

- José Costa, National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority.

October 2025

Fig.MI.P.PO.18; Authors Own, 'Areas at risk of flooding',(FloodMap, 2025)

Fig.MI.P.PO.19; Authors Own, 'Impermeability of Ground Surfaces',(FloodMap, 2025)

Fig.MI.P.PO.20; Authors Own, 'Critical Areas: Summer',(FloodMap, 2025)

Fig.MI.P.PO.21; Authors Own, 'Critical Areas: Winter',(FloodMap, 2025)

Fig.MI.P.PO.22; Authors Own, 'Photograph of Porto Rain'

Rising housing costs and gentrification are displacing long-term residents, while rental markets are saturated and older housing stock deteriorates, requiring urgent investment. These abandoned and underutilised buildings present opportunities for strategic reuse, offering potential solutions for affordable housing and vital community spaces.

More than 30,000 buildings in Porto's city centre sit vacant.

- Manuel Poças, July 2024

14,806 properties are listed on Airbnb in Porto.

- Inside Airbnb, September 2024

Porto has the 2nd highest population of American expats in Portugal.

- Portugal.com, December 2024

Gentrifying Areas in Porto

Porto Vacant Buildings

(per km²)

Porto Density Diagram

(population per km²)

Foreign investment has revived the city after the 2020 pandemic, but with this boost also comes the danger of further gentrification. With rising housing costs and tourism, short-term rental technology platforms like Airbnb allow real estate assets to be more profitable.

Investment in tourism infrastructure and other developments have made the city more attractive to upper-middle class expats from the UK and USA. With this influx of wealthy expats and tourists, increasing house prices in Porto are further exacerbated, making them unaffordable for long-term residents. Areas that are attractive to tourists become increasingly empty of locals.

Fig.MI.P.PO.13; Authors Own, 'Gentrifying Areas in Porto, (Population and housing census 2021 - population grids, 2021)

Fig.MI.P.PO.14; Authors Own, 'Porto Vacant Buildings', (Population and housing census 2021 - population grids, 2021)

Fig.MI.P.PO.15; Authors Own, 'Porto Densirt Diagram', (Population and housing census 2021 - population grids, 2021)

Fig.MI.P.PO.16; Authors Own, 'BnB Sketch'

Fig.MI.P.PO.17; Authors Own, 'Porto Displacement Sketch'

'Porto has presented itself as an attractive and dynamic city, a regional hub for innovation, experimentation and enterprise'

- Sustainable Development Report, Porto Municipality 2023

Porto's Opportunities

Fig.MI.P.PO.24; Authors Own, 'Retrofit Process'

To maintain the historic character of Porto, old buildings often have the interiors demolished, new reinforcement with concrete or steel structures are then added to retain the original façade. Old buildings in Porto were built with granite stone or mixed-masonry exterior walls. The floors and roofs were timber, with little to no seismic reinforcement. As a result, retrofitting requires substantial reinforcement, modernization, and careful heritage-led management.

Fig.MI.P.PO.25; Authors Own, 'Porto Home Sketch'

Porto’s growing role as a hub for startups, digital innovation, and international collaboration presents opportunities for resilience, but also demands strategic urban planning. As foreign investment increases, careful intervention is needed to preserve the city’s historic character, provide equitable spaces for residents and visitors, and strengthen resilience to climate hazards.

Investment in Porto's many vacant or underused sites can facilitate the creation of mixed-use environments that integrate housing, work, and community infrastructure so that economic growth benefits a broader spectrum of the population. If innovation in Porto is guided by sustainability and climate adaptation- and not just profit for financial stakeholders- the city’s capacity to withstand future hazards can be strengthened while supporting more equitable development.

These strategies will be rooted in Porto's specific context. However, the city can be used as a testing ground for approaches that respond to shared global challenges: can investment in Porto be channelled in ways that can deliver global benefit, while still operating within existing investment frameworks?

Fig.MI.P.PO.26; Authors Own, 'Porto's Role Globally'

Fig.MI.P.PO.23; Authors Own, 'Terra Solta Sketch'

Community led initiatives are emerging as a strong element of resilience upon the rising levels of gentrification in Porto, specifically in the suburb of Campanha.

Terra Solta is a volunteer-run community farm managed by the Associação Movimento Terra Solta. The land here was once a farm estate, part of a more rural landscape, which was claimed by the growth of the city. Their mission is to reclaim forgotten land to grow organic food, foster environmental awareness, community, and a healthier, sustainable way of living.

Terra Solta grows vegetables, herbs, fruit trees and keeps organic gardens adhering to principles of biodynamic agriculture.

On Saturdays, Terra Solta is open to the public. Visitors can volunteer, help with gardening, participate in meals cooked from the harvest, attend community events, workshops, and festivals. A kitchen and a library on-site help to anchor Terra Solta as a community landmark (Terra Solta, Sustainable Urban Delt, 2023).

Climate preparedness strategies for Porto should respond to the city’s historic urban fabric and build on residents’ existing knowledge of their own city. At the intersection of human-centred urban design and climate risk mitigation, opportunities arise for targeted interventions that address vulnerabilities specific to Porto’s urban form.

The city’s extensive use of hard, impermeable surfaces contributes to increased urban heat by reflecting and retaining solar radiation. This can be reduced through the introduction of more green spaces, increased tree cover for shading, and the use of green roofs. Applied together, these measures can create public spaces that support everyday use and strengthen resilience to rising temperatures.

Flooding presents a related challenge: impermeable surfaces and limited floodwater management systems increase the risk and impact of flood events. Strategies such as storing and reusing floodwater, or directing it away from buildings and critical infrastructure towards the Douro River, can help reduce damage.

The Índice Ambiental do Porto (Porto Environmental Index, 2021) outlines a vision for improving the city’s environmental performance, providing guidance for planners and architects on sustainable design approaches tailored to Porto’s conditions.

Fig.MI.P.PO.26; Authors Own, 'Climate Preparedness Sketch'

Fig.MI.P.PO.27, 28, 29; Porto

PORTO

KEY ISSUES

Overview Analysis

Porto's Vulnerabilities

'Porto has presented itself as an attractive and dynamic city, a regional hub for innovation, experimentation and enterprise'

Porto's Opportunities

MIRUNA

ABDU

SITES OF INTEREST AROUND PORTO

BOTA

LUCA