Penedo Car Park

The project started from a poorly structured site, with deteriorated surfacing, ineffective drainage and limited clarity in how the space was used. The proposal reorganised the parking layout to accommodate vehicular circulation, daily commuting use and connections to nearby public amenities, defining 90 parking spaces, including accessible spaces, passenger vehicle bays and a dedicated motorcycle area.

A central objective of the intervention was to improve the safety and legibility of pedestrian movement both within the car park and in its links to Cruz das Oliveiras, Alameda Keil do Amaral and the nearby bus stop. The design incorporated crossings, tactile guidance and warning strips, kerb lowering and accessible routes compatible with reduced mobility and visual impairment requirements.

One of the main technical challenges was replacing an almost non-existent drainage system with a more effective and environmentally responsive solution. The proposal combined terrain modelling, permeable materials and the redirection of excess rainwater to soakaways, reducing surface runoff and promoting natural infiltration into the soil.

The relationship with the surrounding Monsanto landscape was treated as a core part of the design. The intervention sought to preserve the greatest possible number of existing trees, introduce new planting for shade and spatial definition, and specify robust, permeable and natural materials, reinforcing continuity between the car park, pedestrian routes and the broader park environment.

Within the Integrated Design scope, COLUNA developed the execution-stage project for the intervention, including landscape design / external works, drainage, the health and safety plan, and the construction and demolition waste management plan. The proposal was structured to respond simultaneously to circulation, accessibility, drainage, environmental integration and public realm improvement requirements. The project documentation also notes that a fire safety package was not developed for this scheme due to site-specific constraints identified by the municipality. Outcome: an integrated technical solution for the upgrade of the car park, combining functionality, accessibility, drainage performance and landscape continuity in a coherent public realm intervention.