Case study

 The case study is located in the valley Cova da Beira at the feet of the city. The area has a perimeter of 14 km and a total of 1000 ha. It is limited by the river Zêzere and the railway. The area is crossed by the national road N18 and the axis TCT. The Auto-Estrada da Beira Interior (A23) passes parallel to the river Zêzere (Ribeira Teixeira) at close distance. It includes the freguesias of Boidobra, São Pedro and Covilhã. The location is crossed by the water streams that come down from Serra da Estrela and end in the river Zêzere. Two of them limit the main area of study (Ribeira do Corges and Ribeira da Água Alta). Other cross transversally next to the airport (Ribeira Degoldra). The area can be extended until the river Zêzere (light blue area) in order to think about planning strategies that bring closer the city to the riverside through the rural, natural and leisure areas. The railway limit the area of study in the west and it is a clear border between the city and the valley. The doors of entrance to the valley are the intersection of the roads with the railway (N18, axis TCT). The area is also limited by the road east-west that connects the N18 with the highway. The Wool Route passes underneath the A23, crosses the river Zêzere, crosses the village of Boidobra and takes another bridge. The Route is interrupted by the airport, in the centre of the area.

 The case study is the door to the Natural Park Serra da Estrela that attracts tourists for winter sports and summer trekking excursions. This is why the shopping mall “Serra Shopping”, located in the perimeter of the area addresses its marketing to this type of visitors. The site is crossed by the Wool Route with a bridge in the river Zezêre. The end destination is the Museu de Lanifícios (The Wool Museum), an important centre of knowledge of the industrial textile history of the region. The survey area is also a privileged location because of its infrastructure network of communications, by train, highway and plane. The train and bus station of Covilhã are in the perimeter of the area, and the airport is located in its centre, with an important zone of influence with a new airplane factory, future hotels, parking area and facilities. In the western part, between the railway and the N18, is located a strip of industry and facilities. The southern part of the strip is much more urbanized. It counts with the textile factory Paulo Oliveira, the Covilhã sport’s complex, a Hotel, the Hospital, the new Faculty of Medicine, a student residence and a supermarket. The northern part has less density, with a rural character, where we can find Canhoso Industrial Zone and a Cooperative Winery. This strip is the platform for the interaction between the University and industry, at the moment only in the field of health and medicine. In the village of São Pedro, there is single-family house urbanization called Covelo, surrounded by rural fields and at 500 m from the airport landing strip. Approximately ten farms are located in the eastern part of the location, surrounded by fields, some of them cultivated and some areas in a process of abandonment. The greenery zones, with natural vegetation and trees are in the shores of the four streams and the river Zêzere. There is a humid area of influence next to the streams where the vegetation is more abundant. The valley has a pleasant topography for bikers and pedestrians. It has the potentiality to become a rural park for the city, with a hybrid character, urbanized and productive. With the advantage of its clean waters, the healthy environment of the air and the view of the fields, with green pastures for the sheep, the vineyards and cherry trees that can cover with colour the valley during the blossom at the end of March and April.