Get to know the project inspired by New York’s High Line to revitalize downtown Porto Alegre
Students from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul have proposed an innovative elevated walkway project inspired by New York's High Line to revitalize the historical downtown of Porto Alegre.
Students and recent graduates from the Architecture School of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) have designed an innovative project aimed at revitalizing the Historical Center of Porto Alegre. The proposal draws inspiration from New York City's High Line and envisions constructing an elevated walkway over the Mauá Wall, extending 1.25 kilometers with bike paths, green spaces, and resting areas. The goal is to enhance connectivity between the Historic Center and Cais Mauá, transforming the previously segregated wall area into a vibrant cultural space.
The proposed elevated walkway is intended to create a closer relationship between the residents of Porto Alegre and the Guaíba waterfront, serving as a public space that encourages interaction. As explained by student Carolina Adam Jahn, the walkway will be suspended above the wall, symbolically bridging gaps and reuniting the community with the waterfront area that has been divided over time. This design emphasizes accessibility and aims to integrate the waterfront more fully into the urban fabric of the city, encouraging people to explore and utilize this previously overlooked space.
In addition to the main walkway, the project includes plans for pedestrian bridges connecting the warehouses at the wharf, which would serve as meeting points and offer views of the lake. The authors of the project seek to repurpose an area that has remained underutilized and disconnected from the city's main attractions, thereby fostering a renewed sense of community and promoting local culture near the Guaíba River.