This project focusses on the relationship between nature in cities and the values conveyed by local communities in Faro, Portugal. With economic and health crises leading to increased stress and depression, society has begun paying more attention to mental and physical health, and the role of nature in cities has become increasingly important. The neighborhood of Estação in Faro is an area that directly borders the Ria Formosa Natural Park, making it an ideal location to study the values that green areas in cities convey to local communities. To understand the relationship between nature and people, this research used participatory research methods. The aim was to reveal the interests and perspectives of different stakeholders regarding the cultural significance of places, by assessing the values held by different generations. Two theoretical frameworks were used to code the cultural significance of nature. Cultural significance is defined by two concepts: values and attributes. The values refer to why something is important, while attributes refer to the quality or characteristic that someone or something has. The varied categories of attributes are divided into tangible attributes (asset, area, and all) and intangible attributes (product, societal, process).
The research aimed to gather information about all age groups with the most suitable participatory gaming methods. A card game was developed to understand the values of both children and elderly. The game is set around proposal cards that contain actions to take regarding the city of Faro, based on nature-based solutions (NBS) from the Urbinat catalogue. The proposals are completed with other actions that might want to be explored further in the design phase. Each proposal has been classified according to the values/attribute framework. The results of the research indicated that nature in cities is valued by local communities for a range of reasons. The highest results that emerged from the research where the economic, social and ecological values. The research also identified different attributes associated with these values, such as a sense of place, physical characteristics, cultural heritage, and ecological functions. Overall, this research has highlighted the importance of understanding the cultural significance of nature in cities for different generations.
The research was used for a values-based redesign of a vacant industrial site. The project has four main goals: rehabilitation, cohabitation, intergenerational interaction, and community ownership. The first goal aims to protect the historic and cultural significance of the site by limiting interventions to minor impacts. The second goal focuses on the relation between people and nature, highlighting the potential for nature to increase well-being and create enjoyable spaces. The third goal focuses on the relationship between people of different ages, emphasizing the mutual benefits of intergenerational interactions. The fourth goal emphasizes the importance of community involvement in the creation and maintenance of the project. Proposed functions for the building include workshop spaces, gardens, bars/restaurants, workspaces, clubs, and exhibition spaces. The proposed design aligns with social, ecological, and economic values. Based on the research the design received positive responses from both age groups.