Candidate: Carolina Ferreira
Advisor: Gonçalo Canto Moniz; Co-Advisor: António Rochette Cordeiro
Reference FCT: SFRH/BD/111760/2015
Conclusion Date: January 2020

Inês Lopes
Integrated Master Degree in Architecture, IST (in progress)

Ana Oliveira
Integrated Master Degree in Architecture, IST (in progress)

Jaquelina Sio
Integrated Master Degree in Architecture, IST
Link




Abstract
Playgrounds are coveted and important public spaces in our urban fabric, not lone for providing a place for children's play and development in the city, but also for being spaces capable of fostering public life and community activity. Yet, neither perceived as permanent structures nor designated for preservation, playgrounds often end up altered or lost in the course of time, with much of their history left unrecorded. The lack of solid documentation and general indifference toward play environments comprises one of the main reasons for the current practice of standardized and homogenous playgrounds fenced out from its surroundings.
The following thesis explores a part of the playground evolution, development and achievement by rediscovering the playgrounds emerged between the 1930s and the 1980s, tracing the various facets of its solution at different periods in history and in different parts of the globe through four major narratives. In a parallel manner, focus is given to the current strategies and interventions of success conceived by Dutch design firm Carve, which intricate and sensible design have demonstrated the significance of playgrounds and its potential to bring about substantial contribution to the children, society and city of today.
The study aims to unfold the broad and varying design choices and principles of past and present playgrounds, through analysing its spatial and morphological characteristics; tracking the circumstances, practitioners and visions behind its conception; understanding its relevance and contribution to the respective time and context; and examining the various roles taken up by playgrounds in the city at different times in different places. Ultimately, this work intends to give prominence to the subject matter and contribute to its research and documentation, establishing insights into past and present design solutions as a mean for future reference.

Joana Oliveira
Integrated Master Degree in Architecture, IST
26-11-2018
Link

Bárbara Freitas Ferreira
Integrated Master Degree in Architecture, IST
22-12-2017
Weblink



Abstract
The research aims at exploring the means of registration and dissemination of the architecture produced in Portugal, such as Atlas, Catalogue, Guide, Inquiry, Inventory, and Itinerary in physical and digital formats. The main objective is to grasp the design principles of these publications, focusing on different aspects: aim of the publication, theoretical context, identification of the criteria for selecting the buildings presented in the publication, data regarding the identification of the buildings, organization of the publication, identification of different formats (digital and physical), research methodology and authors.
The study is supported by different references that contributed to the theoretical frame of the research and analyses eighteen publications (case studies), with different typologies and authorships, for the identifications of the aspects identified above. All the information regarding the case studies is gathered in summary sheets allowing the reading and the comparison between them.
A summary table provides an overview of the information collected from the case studies and allows drawing some conclusions seeking to answer the questions raised at the beginning of the research.