Barreiro Ferry Station and Masterplan, Lisbon
1993-1995

Barreiro is set on the south bank of the Tagus, across the river from Lisbon. Once a small 19th century waterfront settlement, the town is now one of the busiest commuter centres for ferries crossing the river.

Barreiro's railway terminus was established in 1863. The original ferry terminal building dates back to 1884. In the absence of a road bridge linking Barreiro with Lisbon, ferries have always been a strategic part of the transport infrastructure. However, by the 1990s, the existing rail and ferry terminus was unable to cope with commuter levels.

In 1993, Terry Farrell & Partners and local architects, Ideias do Futuro, were commissioned by Caiminhos de Ferro Portugues, the Portuguese national railway authority to design a development concept for the Barreiro waterfront. The masterplan transforms an underused 20-hectare site into a flourishing ferry port, strategically linked to southern Portugal's railway network.

Following the construction of railway tracks under the Ponte 25 de Abril, Barreiro's ferry and train stations had to find a new role. The masterplan provides regeneration and new mass-transit ferry links to central Lisbon. Transport links between Barreiro and Lisbon were further strengthened by the opening of a railway bridge across the Tagus in 1998.

The masterplan responds to a framework plan drawn up by the municipal council of Barreiro. The first phase comprised a transport interchange, with private and public transport zones providing drop-off/pick-up facilities and improved pedestrian access. A potential residential and commercial development along the waterfront, with views over the Tagus to the north was considered. The area of the new terminal was therefore zoned for development to the south.

The masterplan divides the site into a main square and a series of secondary spaces. The garden square marks the entrance to the site at the intersection of the pedestrian route and Avenida da Republica and separates the site from other areas of the town. It also provides recreational space and screens bus and car parking from the development area. Forming an interchange between the ferry and railway stations, the square is equipped with public amenities. Ticketing and operational areas are housed in a shared concourse. During peak hours, the new interchange handles around 15,000 ferry passengers per hour, who arrive or depart to make connections with other forms of transport or to continue on foot into Barreiro.

After the masterplan was approved, TFP and Ideias do Futuro were commissioned to create a new ferry terminal. The linear building, completed in 1995 is a simple but elegant structure, which has distinctive urban and waterfront characteristics.