A 24,000-square-metre site that had remained unused for years in Gondomar, Portugal, was transformed into a new public space.

Designed by Paulo Merlini Architects in partnership with P4 – Artes e Técnicas da Paisagem, Gondomar Urban Park brought pedestrian connections, social spaces and ecological infrastructure together within a single landscape project.

Located in the São Cosme district, the park occupies a central site surrounded by a library, auditorium, schools, market and residential areas. The project’s main objective was to connect these nearby urban facilities through an accessible network of pedestrian routes.

The design took into account the site’s natural changes in elevation and existing pedestrian routes. The dirt path connecting the upper and lower levels was preserved, with new entrances, walkways and areas for different activities added along this main route.

At the centre of the park, circular seating steps integrated into the topography formed an outdoor amphitheatre. A café, children’s playgrounds, a dog park and outdoor fitness areas were arranged to the north, while a large open lawn to the south was reserved for different activities.This layout also made the park part of everyday pedestrian movement through the city.

Sweeping curves and white structures contributed to the development of Gondomar Urban Park’s architectural language.

The main western entrance was completed with a white metal-clad steel arch supported by concrete bases. Prefabricated seating elements were installed throughout the park.Two small service buildings in the northern section were constructed using white concrete and metal. These volumes, distinguished by their curved forms, were designed to house a café and an accessible toilet facility.

Approximately 800 trees were planted as part of the landscape project. Birch, pine, oak and Ginkgo biloba species were used alongside shrubs and ground-cover plants.

Two interconnected ponds were created in the park. Aquatic plants were selected to help maintain water quality through natural processes.

Rainwater retention basins were also incorporated into the project’s technical infrastructure. This system was designed to slow surface runoff and reduce pressure on the city’s drainage network during heavy rainfall. The park’s landscape thus took on urban functions such as water management and green infrastructure, alongside its recreational areas.

Alongside recreational spaces, the park therefore incorporated water management and planted infrastructure into the urban environment.

Gondomar Urban Park opened to the public on 3 October 2022. The architectural practice recorded 2023 as the project’s completion year. In 2025, the park received the Grand Prize and first prize in the New Public Space Design category of Portugal’s Rede de Cidades e Vilas que Caminham programme.

The park’s subsequent use has also been documented. Five outdoor concerts were held during the summer of 2026 as part of the Música no Parque programme. These free events demonstrate that the park has become a regularly used venue in the city’s cultural programme.

In Gondomar’s case, the most important consideration for the future is not so much the design’s appearance in its early years as its long-term performance: the growth of its trees, the maintenance of its rainwater systems, continued pedestrian access and the continuation of its public programme.

These factors will determine how much value the park brings to the city in the years ahead.