The Ramalde Sports Park is in the heart of the Ramalde Residential Unit and comprises an area of 55,100.00 m2 in its entirety. It was initially designed between 1952 and 1960, by Fernando Távora, in the context of the general project of the Ramalde Residential Unit, promoted by the Federação das Caixas de Previdência, occupying an area north of Avenida da Boavista.
The initial project underwent changes promoted by FNAT (Fundação Nacional para a Alegria no Trabalho), and, of the sports equipment designed, only the football field, with athletics track and tennis courts were built. The stadium was inaugurated in 1969.
The areas to the north and south of this central nucleus remained expectant for several years, although the topographic operation was carried out to create an athletics area to the north.
Within the Park grounds, the project’s intervention area comprises the northern half of the Sports Park, aiming at the construction of: a new field for rugby and football; a new support building with changing rooms and covered benches; a new venue for athletics in the shot put, hammer and javelin throw; and a new archery area.
The implementation of the new playing field is structuring of the operation to be carried out in this sector of the Sports Park, due to its size and functional requirements. The remaining areas that are part of the program were arranged around the new field
The new rugby and football field involves lowering the existing earthworks, bringing it into line with the level of the entrance gate, having been designed in conjunction with the implementation of the new covered bench and planned changing room and support areas.
This new building, to be built in exposed concrete, constitutes an artificial topography, since its upper top appears tied to the level of the land at the highest point. The topographic development of the surrounding area allows the building to be revealed even at the south top, where the entrance to the interior is located, in association with the bar, which opens onto the entrance porch area. The roof of the new benches was placed on top of this building, tangent to the gaming rectangle.
Inside this building, several functional areas were integrated, such as 5 changing rooms and four multipurpose rooms open to each other. The building also includes administrative areas, a medical post and sanitary facilities. The functional areas are organized around an atrium resulting from the geometric articulation of the complex.
The supporting structure of the bench cover is made of reinforced concrete, of great simplicity, consisting of a backbone, integrated into a continuous pre-stressed beam, supported by pillars, approximately 15 meters apart. In this sense, the set suggests a discreet winter pavilion in close harmony with the surroundings and the trees, contributing to a serenity that calms the ruptures that time ended up consolidating in the place.

Architecture Paulo Tormenta Pinto
Collaboration Rosa Maria Bastos, João Maria Costa
Hydraulics Jorge Pinhero/ BETAR, Lda
Structures Miguel Villar e Paulo Mendonça/ BETAR, Lda
AVAC Inês Silva
Electricity and Telecommunications Daniel Moreira
Design/ construction 2019 / –
Photography (renders) Maria de Novais