O museu como agente de requalificação urbana no Porto de San Diego em Coruña

Abstract

Unequal access to culture and high-quality public facilities still remains a reality in many cities. These disparities largely result from urban growth processes that were not accompanied by an equitable distribution of cultural and social infrastructure across the territory. In response to this situation, several initiatives have emerged to democratize access to culture and civic participation, with particular emphasis on museums and cultural centers as transformative public facilities. It is within this context that the present project is developed, focusing on the Contemporary Art Museum as a cultural, educational, and social hub in the San Diego neighborhood of A Coruña, resultant from the participation in Erasmus+ Exchange Program at the University of A Coruña. The project parts from the need to reconnect an underutilized port area to the active urban fabric of the city, promoting a space that values local memory, encourages civic participation, and strengthens cultural identity. The aim is for the museum to go beyond its expository role and become a living facility—capable of welcoming and reflecting the city’s cultural, social, and educational dynamics, with a special focus on the local community and its urban context.