Martim Moniz, finally a garden – and this one will have trees from different countries and a view of Mouraria

In 2019, a movement called “Um Jardim para o Martim Moniz” (A Garden for Martim Moniz) formed a chain to halt a private project and triggered a participatory process where the community expressed its desire: to see a garden emerge in this multicultural square in Lisbon. It’s been a lengthy process, but it seems close to completion.

Four years after the start of the fight for a garden in Martim Moniz, there’s finally a project setting a new future, announced just before the launch of journalist and Mensagem founder Ferreira Fernandes’ book “Martim Moniz,” that took place on November 13 in FNAC do Chiado.

The winning project of the public design competition for the redevelopment of Martim Moniz Square was created by architects Filipa Cardoso de Menezes and Catarina Assis Pacheco. The project was initially scheduled for public discussion on the 8th but was postponed to the 22nd at the request of opposition councillors.

After all, what will change in Martim Moniz?

Based on the “deconstruction of the island”, the project foresees the creation of a large green space where pedestrian circulation is valued, and where some historical elements from the past of such a Lisbon place are rescued.

Let’s look at some of the main interventions:

• A multicultural garden

In the center of the square, an open garden will emerge.

On the existing slab, a living material platform will be installed, thus creating a diversified green structure with trees from different climates that refer to the different countries that intersect in this square – interestingly, the idea that Mensagem had also conveyed in its first published text by Ferreira Fernandes, in the piece that now turned into a book:

What to do? A world garden with trees from our ancient forest – cork oaks, olive trees, carob trees, strawberry trees, stone pines… – alongside flowerbeds with everything exotic and also because of Portugal. Speaking of which, Fernão de Magalhães, 500 years ago, in a few days, April 27, to give his contribution, died on a distant beach. Experts in Lisbon abound when it comes to national trees and species from all over the world. Knowledge about how to do this on top of an underground parking slab exists. And to enhance this simple thing – as I never get tired of saying – we have the diverse people of Martim Moniz, those from the past and those arriving.”

• An inclusive playground will be born in the garden
  
• And there will be a cafeteria with an observation point at its top.
  
• A new square

The Martim Moniz square as we know it today will “open up” towards its eastern side, where the Mouraria Shopping Center and the Chapel of Our Lady of Health are located.

This side of the square will be entirely pedestrian, emphasizing the importance of the Chapel, such an identifying element. Connecting the garden and the square, there will be benches, a sort of “amphitheatre” on the hill of Mouraria.

• Main Crossing

It will be possible (and easy!) to cross the entire square from one end to the other. There will be a large pedestrian crossing on Rua da Palma, a connection to the garden through a ramp, and a connection to the square of the Chapel of Our Lady of Health and the Saúde Steps.

• Restricted Automobile Traffic

With this new layout, all automobile traffic, as well as buses and trams, will move to the western side of the square, to a renewed Rua da Palma, where a two-way cycle lane will also be created, connecting to Almirante Reis.

At a new roundabout near the Hotel Mundial, bus and tram stops will be concentrated.

• A reconstruction of the Fernandina Wall

In the square, a retaining wall will emerge atop the ancient Fernandina Wall, founded in the parking lot. This retaining wall will establish the separation between the square and the roundabout near the Hotel Mundial, where trees of some size will be planted.

• Cistern/well

A cistern for storing and collecting rainwater will be installed in a section of the parking lot. An artistic piece aiming to provoke reflection regarding water.

Ana da Cunha

Nasceu no Porto, há 28 anos, mas desde 2019 que faz do Alfa Pendular a sua casa. Em Lisboa, descobriu o amor às histórias, ouvindo-as e contando-as na Avenida de Berna, na Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

✉ ana.cunha@amensagem.pt

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O jornalismo que a Mensagem de Lisboa faz une comunidades,
conta histórias que ninguém conta e muda vidas.
Dantes pagava-se com publicidade,
mas isso agora é terreno das grandes plataformas.
Se gosta do que fazemos e acha que é importante,
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