Faro Living Street EN

Name Faro Living Street
Status The financed project took place during the year of 2021.
Location Parish Councils Sé and São Pedro - Faro
Entity Municipality of Faro

More information:
News 1
News 2

About the project

In a public space previously used only for parking - Rua Caldas Xavier square - Faro's first Living Street was born. This project was the result of an application funded by the German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and its main goal was to remove as many cars as possible from this place and give it back to the citizens, to the residents who live there, promoting neighbourhood relations and a sense of belonging.
In order to promote community participation and ensure the sustainability of the project, the Municipality encouraged the formation of an Action and Reflection Network that brings together about 50 members, including residents, local agents and Municipality employees.
This Network - which, in a democratic and inclusive way, has promoted meetings between members and moments of sharing opinions, interests and needs - has carried out joint work with the goal of making Caldas Xavier Street a welcoming and functional place, ideal for socializing and relaxing, playing, studying, working or just breathing fresh air. In this sense, several equipments produced with ecofriendly materials were installed - tables, benches, flower boxes, swings and sports equipment.
By removing most of the cars from this location, visual, noise and air pollution was reduced, creating an opportunity for people to leave their homes, socialise and play outdoors, by spending quality time in a pleasant space built with ecological materials, rich in fruit trees and aromatic plants. Besides the green space, a social and leisure area was installed, aimed at people of all ages.
The Faro Living Street was inaugurated on 20 July 2021 and, since then, has been the stage for several environmental, social and cultural activities, which are mainly promoted by the Network partners.

New European Bauhaus Framework

The Faro Living Street project is an inclusive and democratic project that aims to promote community participation, neighbourhood relations, while giving public space back to the people. The community of this neighbourhood was involved and committed to transform Caldas Xavier Street into a more livable, beautiful and sustainable place.
On the other hand, the Municipality of Faro is also proud of this participation model and is committed to replicate this concept in other areas of the municipality, in a new way of designing the city that involves and challenges citizens to think about the street(s).