Portugal

Drivers of construction

The city centre has experienced recurrent flooding over the last decades resulting from heavy rainfall overwhelming the drainage systems' capacity to absorb large volumes of water in a short period. In response, the Setúbal City Council aimed to prevent flash floods in the city centre by building retention basins that control the rainwater volume during periods of heavy rain. They came to the solution of a floodable park, since it simultaneously, the soil's sponge effect with extensive green areas in the city centre, supporting biodiversity and reducing urban heat.