The «Rotunda da Areosa» marks the cross point of structural traffic lines, but his location is at the same time the place where the limits of severall small districts of Oporto Metropolitan Area mixed themselves. For example, «Rotunda da Areosa», is located in the periferic limit of Oporto historic center, in the limit of Maia district, in the limit of Gondomar district, and in the same line of Matosinhos district (connected by Circunvalação). However, in this particular case study, Areosa achieved a point where being in a peripheric condition is at the same time being in the center of all districts. 

 …but has any one realise how good can be this kind of peripheric condition? ...
The building market value is very low, there are no requalification perspectives, and time brought a strongly bad reputation to this area, increased by the «supposed troubled» neighbourhood that inhabit one of the oldest social housing projects of the city.

Despite this, the true is that «Rotunda da Areosa» is one of the most dynamic and active spaces of all city. That happens due to the force of a population sector that has a lower power of consume, like migrants for instance, as well as lots of people who suffer a kind of social exclusion related to this fact. People had transform this area in a really  qualified public space, and what apparently is no more than a confused traffic square, is actually a singular living place. In «Rotunda da Areosa», people build their life, business, and commercial activities, using nearby stores, as well as using the space above the street that crosses the « rotunda», or even using the open air space that remains outside.

Here, the public space, has a real meaning, and there was no need for an amazing fund program, or other kind of political propaganda project… it was the people.

"Rotunda da Areosa" (PDF)