Requalificação da centralidade urbana de Xiquelene caso de estudo: centralidade urbana de Xiquelene

Abstract

This project presents a proposal for the requalification of the Xiquelene urban centrality, a dynamic and strategic territory within the city of Maputo, characterized by intense informality, mixed land use, and complex urban pressures. The study area demonstrates a pattern of spontaneous occupation, with deficient physical infrastructure, congested road systems, precarious buildings, and unregulated informal commerce, particularly concentrated around the main bus terminal. Acknowledging Xiquelene's functional and symbolic relevance within the urban fabric of Mozambique’s capital, this work is based on a multi-scalar approach—metropolitan, urban, and local—combining technical diagnosis, morphological analysis, everyday urban observation, and international urban references. The proposed interventions address the reorganization of the urban grid, enhancement of public spaces and mobility, implementation of vertical mixed-use housing, and restructuring of commercial activity, especially through the creation of a linear commercial plaza and redevelopment of the existing market. The project aims to transform Xiquelene into a more structured, inclusive, and resilient centrality, one that values local social dynamics, promotes socio-spatial integration, and responds to contemporary urban challenges in the African context