Porto Pool Promenade
The main intention and ambition behind this project is to highlight and enhance the relationship between the city and the river. This relationship is made of moments of pause along promenades and gardens meanwhile the visitor establishes a visual liaison with the Douro river, the majestic Luis I bridge and the characteristic surroundings. In many points, the visitor can reach the riverside and enjoy a “wood beach” or its pools and outdoor thermal springs.
Functionally the project consists of a restaurant, outdoor pools, both for summer and winter use, a wide open space for public performances and small shops, cafeterias and other services distributed along the walk. Elements integrated in the main project structure of slopes and stairs are essential for a complete use and enjoyment in every moment of the year and day.
The project offers open and clean spaces suitable for static uses such as restaurants and cafeterias or sports such as running or cycling. The tour can start in the restaurant, directly connected to the Luis I bridge pillars platform (lower level), or in two points at the Gustavo Eiffel avenue. In the second part of the walk the visitor can find the indoor pool, saunas and steam bath. The pool is hidden in the basement, excavated in the mass, and illuminated by small cuts made in the upper garden paving. Smaller indoor pools are followed and connected with outdoor pools by waterfalls from ones to others thanks to its distribution at different heights. By the end of the walk a mall dock is placed in order to allow its use by small ships either for fishing or recreational practice. Access for touristic ships can be found on the other side of the dock.
