Located in the parish of Carnide, bordering Lumiar and São Domingos de Benfica, the Maria Droste site sits at the heart of Lisbon’s northern urban crown, linking housing districts with the city’s ecological network.

The City of Lisbon invites innovative design ideas that promote climate resilience, inclusion, and sustainable mobility. Proposals should explore how housing, ecology, and public space can coexist in a climate-positive urban model.

Covering approximately 62,500 m², the site combines municipal, state, and private lands, including built areas and open spaces. According to the Lisbon Municipal Master Plan (PDM), it is a transitional zone with residential, green, and recreational areas, acting as a hinge between urban and ecological systems.

Historically, the area has been studied through the Maria Droste Detailed Plan (2006) and the Maria Droste Urban Park Study (2011), both envisioning its transformation into a structuring urban park connecting Carnide, Lumiar, and Luz.

Site background

According to the Lisbon Municipal Master Plan (PDM), the Maria Droste area is a transitional zone linking consolidated housing districts with the city’s ecological structure.

It includes central and residential areas to be consolidated, green and recreational zones, and landscape buffers along infrastructures — reflecting its hybrid urban–ecological nature and its potential to become a key hinge within Lisbon’s network of structural green corridors.

Historically, the area has been addressed through the Maria Droste Detailed Plan (2006) and the Maria Droste Urban Park Study (2011, Falcão de Campos), both envisioning the transformation of this underused space into a structuring urban park linking Carnide, Lumiar, and Luz.

Approx. site area

The site area is approximately 62,500 m² and includes a mix of public and private land.

Key information

The Maria Droste site connects consolidated housing areas with Lisbon’s ecological network and green corridors. It includes both built areas and open green spaces with strong potential for sustainable transformation.

Priority areas & main expectations

Designs should integrate nature-based solutions for water management, heat mitigation, and biodiversity enhancement. Proposals should promote inclusive public spaces, strengthen social cohesion, and explore affordable and mixed-use housing models within a resilient and connected green framework. These efforts aim to transform Maria Droste into a climate-positive and inclusive urban district.

Check the Site Regulation in the documentation section.