First-generation shopping centres in Braga:

Braga’s first-generation shopping centres emerged in the second half of the 20th century, following the urban and social changes brought about by the Portuguese democratic revolution of 1974. They embodied a modern, democratic vision of commerce, reflecting a country eager to align with international trends. Conceived as central, protected and innovative spaces for trade, they symbolised the aspirations of a society in transformation.

Between the 1970s and 1990s, around 20 of these centres were built in Braga, ranging from modest galleries to multi-storey complexes. They replaced older buildings, filled courtyards and became an integral part of the city centre’s urban fabric. Today, more than 20 remain active — or at least partially so.

Over time, however, their prominence has waned. Out-of-town retail parks, changing consumer habits and the rise of e-commerce have drawn customers away. Many of these buildings now show clear signs of decline, with high vacancy rates and uninviting interiors. The extreme fragmentation of ownership — sometimes with dozens or even hundreds of individual owners per building — makes coordinated maintenance or investment nearly impossible. As a result, thousands of square metres of privately-owned yet publicly-used urban space are left adrift, without a clear strategy for the future.

Yet these centres still have a role to play, hosting activities the formal city often struggles to accommodate. Affordable rents attract trades like cobblers, hairdressers, copy shops, craft studios, associations, even storage and rehearsal spaces. They have become hybrid spaces: part of the city’s collective memory and potential platforms for alternative uses, yet largely invisible and disconnected from the city’s main dynamics.

In recent years, several initiatives have sought to bring these spaces back into the urban conversation. Projects such as Ativar Braga and Reencontro, led by the local Chamber of Commerce and Municipality, organised campaigns, events and activities to reanimate the historic commercial heart of the city. The Shopyard project, part of Braga 25 – Portuguese Capital of Culture and curated by Space Transcribers, takes this further: imagining these buildings as laboratories for social, cultural and urban experimentation, sparking debate and exploring new possibilities for their place in contemporary city life.

Together, these shopping centres represent tens of thousands of square metres of underused urban space, in prime locations, waiting to be reimagined, so we ask: What forms of public life could they host? Could they become shared infrastructures for the needs of today’s city? And who will take responsibility for shaping their future?