The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) aims to demolish Porto’s 'Edifício Transparente' (pictured below) and a further 33 buildings along the coastline between Caminha and Espinho, in addition to the removal of hundreds of private homes built on the dunes.
The demolitions are all part of the coastal plan covering an area between Caminha and Espinho.
Edifício Transparente, built in front of the sea at Praia Internacional, belongs to Porto Council and was built as part of the European Capital of Culture celebrations in 2001 to a design by the Catalan architect, Solà-Morales at a cost of €7.5 million.
The building was leased to Hottrade until 2024, which could complicate the demolition process. Among the remaining buildings are restaurants and private houses.
The new coastal plan prohibits the construction of houses on the sea front and provides for the removal of 14 such clusters, of which 12 are in "critical areas" in terms of exposure to bad weather and the risk of erosion and flooding.
The proposal also foresees the demolition of some buildings such as the viewpoint in Caxinas (Vila do Conde), Esplanada do Carvalhido (Póvoa de Varzim), Pizza Hut Foz restaurant and the popular Kasa da Praia nightclub (Porto).
The nine municipalities affected all gave a negative opinion to the new plan, but the proposal was approved anyway and is going forward for public consultation next week.
The plan identified 46 critical areas along the 122 kilometers of coastline between Caminha and Espinho.
This coastal plan puts the Environment Minister back on the front page. Those Council areas affected have stated that they are taking legal action to stop the coastal clearance project.
Above: Porto’s 'Edifício Transparente'
Caixa Mar, due for demolition
