Municipal Complex of Casa do Alto

Category: Nature > Park

District: Porto > Maia > Pedrouços > Cutamas

Location

The Casa do Alto Municipal Complex is located in Pedrouços, an area of the city of Maia. This space was built upon the ancient Quinta de Cutamas (Cutamas Farm), maintaining a connection to a rural past while integrating into today's urban environment. Its position offers a tranquil refuge, inviting moments of calm and decompression.

Origin and Unique Architecture

Inaugurated in 1997, the Casa do Alto Complex resulted from the repurposing of an old late 19th-century farm house, which belonged to the historic Quinta de Cutamas. This transformation respected the original design, while adapting and expanding it for its current functions. The building's architecture is recognized for its uniqueness, marking the local landscape with a fusion of heritage and modernity, and is completely open to the community.

The Gardens and the Natural Environment

The Casa do Alto Complex stands out for its vast green spaces, which extend over a considerable area. The gardens are carefully planned, with expansive lawns that invite leisure, and wooded areas where a dense tree canopy has been preserved. One can find a variety of tree species such as oaks, pines, cork oaks, ash trees, linden trees, sweetgums, and plane trees, some of which boast great longevity. There are also flowerbeds with aromatic plants and climbers, enriching the natural environment. In the highest part, a lawn punctuated by large umbrella pines offers a space for repose.

These spaces were designed for the well-being of visitors, providing moments of peace and tranquility in contact with nature. Exploring the small pedestrian paths reveals serene nooks and points of interest such as the amphitheater, created from an old quarry, and a small viewpoint.

An Intergenerational Coexistence Space

Beyond its natural and architectural beauty, the Casa do Alto Municipal Complex stands out for a unique social characteristic: it accommodates different generations in the same space. This particularity allows for harmonious interaction among users of a nursery, a youth center, and a day care center, fostering mutual interaction and enrichment. The presence of a playground and a multi-sport court complements the outdoor activities, offering options for fun and sports practice for varied audiences. The complex also includes an exhibition hall, enriching the cultural offerings of the location.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt