The green light has been given for the conversion of the old industrial slaughterhouse, Matadouro, in Porto into a business, cultural and social hub that promises to transform the eastern area of Porto. This is because Porto City Council (CMP) won an appeal it filed about the prior approval given by the Court of Auditors (TdC). This is a project that will be carried out by Mota-Engil and has the signature of the famous Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, in partnership with the Portuguese office OODA, located in Matosinhos.
"The Court of Auditors had refused the visa for the aforementioned project on 4th February, 2019, that is, 14 months ago, having given the municipality 10 days to file an appeal, which it did in time. After more than a year, the CMP has eventually won the appeal, receiving the necessary approval, the last step necessary to start the work", stated the municipality, in a statement.
It should be remembered that the former industrial slaughterhouse in Porto, located in the parish of Campanhã, has been our of use for 20 years. "It was even put up for public auction by the former president of CMP, but was never sold. Now, it will be the target of an investment of almost 40 million euros, supported in full by Mota-Engil, a company from Porto that won the tender launched by CMP for the concession of the space", stated on the Porto city information site Porto.pt.
What will be become of the space? Current plans include building an area for companies, art galleries, museums, auditoriums and spaces to host social integration projects. The work is thought to take around two years, the municipality has revaled.
According to Porto City Council, Mota-Engil has already provided a guarantee to the municipality and is obliged to comply with the programme outlined in the next 30 years. "At the end of that period, the facility will return to the municipal sphere. The municipality, which will occupy part of the former slaughterhouse, is responsible for carrying out projects of cultural stimulation, community involvement and commitment to social integration", reads the document.
