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From Tomar to Angra: Interpretative Hypothesis of Geometric Pattern Morphology



Author(s)

José Júlio Cabral Faria Frias Dias

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DOI:10.17265/1934-7359/2015.07.008

Faculty of Architecture, University of Porto, Porto 4150-755, Portugal

This paper is focused on the study of the urban form of Tomar, which was founded in Portugal by the Order of the Temple during the 12th century. It is centered on the site where the Order of the Temple was created, Jerusalem, and also on the Templar European headquarters, Paris, in Marais neighborhood; as well as on its headquarters in Portugal, Tomar; and finally, on Angra which was set up in Azores at the beginning of the Portuguese discoveries in 1427. While exploring possible Templar principles on setting up medieval geometric cities, the aim of this paper is to expose that Tomar is a truly relevant case on that process and, therefore, that Portugal have had a significant role on medieval geometric urbanism. The achievements of this paper show that the selected territories share common settlement principles which are based on both similar geometric rules and analogous hierarchy schemes. Regarding that, it will be possible to state that cultural and population exchanges with France should not be considered as the sole factor to shape European medieval urbanity. Portugal should have had a role on that process, too. At least, it should be possible to explore other hypothesis on further pieces of research, according to the exposed arguments.

Portugal, Tomar, medieval European urbanism, geometric pattern morphology, bastides.