ABSTRACT
This paper essays an interpretative re-reading of the contemporary role of a heritage site historically preserved since the eighteenth century: Quinta do Marquês de Pombal, in Oeiras. It is advocated the possibility of democratizing and making its boundaries more porous, associating a potential appropriation of land for agriculture and self-production. It is imagined that such a metamorphosis would reshape the place’s use-value, democratizing and renewing its social and political representativity.The first chapter provides a descriptive analysis of the Quinta do Marquês de Pombal, detailing its historical significance, architectural features, and role in the socio-political context. In the second chapter, the paper examines the relationship between the historical Quinta do Marquês and its surrounding suburban environment, as well as the potential for spatial justice and inclusion through the reconfiguration of the property. In the third chapter, the paper discusses breaking down barriers and creating new connections between the historic property and its surrounding suburban area. It proposes rehabilitating a neglected bridge and promoting agricultural production to foster social and ecological sustainability. The last chapter explores the importance of social activism in architecture, political-spatial agency, and the role of transformation in creating a communal landscape.
