The exhibition presents the processes and outcomes of Shopyard Summer School, an intensive pedagogical experimentation program held in Braga between 18 and 25 July 2025, as part of Braga 25 – Portuguese Capital of Culture.
Organized in partnership by Space Transcribers and INSTITUTO, the program focused on critical reflection and the development of proposals for the activation of first-generation shopping centers in Braga.
Over the course of one week, 30 architecture students from 17 nationalities, guided by the mentors OITOO (Porto), BUREAU (Lisbon/Geneva), and OUEST (Brussels), developed proposals for three case studies: Santa Cruz, Galécia and Santa Bárbara Shopping Centres.
The exhibition, curated by Space Transcribers and INSTITUTO, now brings together the projects, studies, and process materials that explore new spatial and social futures for these shopping centers.
Starting from case studies located in Braga, the works presented address challenges shared by many cities, proposing strategies and approaches that can be adapted and reactivated in other urban contexts.