Representing the Invisible : scenarios of the Underground Spaces

The most recent politics of regeneration have gone beyond the old traditional systems.
At the old approach it is going to replace another, more inter-disciplinary and more active,
mainly based on the attractive and “inspiring” capacity of the landscapes, in which are
carry out strategies with the purpose of incentivize and promote the economic and social
development of the cities. The presented case examines the region of Algarve, in the
south of Portugal, and more in detail the recent regeneration politics under development in
the city of Loulè. Underground of this city extends 34 km of galleries of the unique rock salt
mine in Portugal, today in phase of abandon. Recent politics about the urban regeneration
of Loulè foresee that this underground landscape with incredible spatial and climate
qualities (interior temperature 23° constant, and relative humidity 50% render this place a
perfect ambient for the respiratory diseases therapy) will became part of the city, finding a
strong link with the surface. The goal toward the Loulè politics are actually in agreement is
to promote an high quality urban tourist product able to produce effects and interactions
not only in the activities related with the tourism, (as ticket office, info-point etc. etc.) but in
all urban functions. After an international workshop, which looks the active involvement of
population, architects, landscape architects and local administration, have been developed
some visions, that concern both the future function of this underground landscape and
tangible design aspects. One of this is the accessibility at the underground landscape
interpreted as a narrative path capable to explain and reveal, through some spatial
sequence, a landscape of exceptional artistic inspiration destined to became a fulcrum of
the city future urban and social development