11 May

Casa do Corim: LIPOR inaugurates new Sustainability Hub

LIPOR has officially inaugurated its new Sustainability Hub at Casa do Corim, in a building rehabilitated by Maia Municipality, further strengthening the vocation of this space as a centre for knowledge, innovation, nature, sustainability, culture and community.

Owned by Maia Municipality, Casa do Corim has been managed by LIPOR since 2022 under a commodatum agreement signed between the two entities. The inauguration of the new Hub marks another step in consolidating this space as a reference dedicated to sustainability and to building more sustainable Communities: Casa do Corim – The Place of Sustainability.

"Since LIPOR took on the responsibility of giving this heritage a meaningful purpose, more than 190 initiatives have already been carried out here, involving thousands of participants and helping to raise awareness and motivate a mobilised and increasingly conscious community", stated Engr. António Domingos da Silva Tiago, Mayor of Maia and Chair of LIPOR’s Board of Directors.

More than a space, Casa do Corim – The Place of Sustainability asserts itself as a living, organic and constantly evolving place, where different dimensions of sustainability coexist.

Under the motto "Feel the History, Live the Nature", the space now offers two visit circuits: the Historical Circuit and the Natural Circuit, providing visitors with an immersive experience between heritage and biodiversity. Two circuits, one unique experience.

The new Sustainability Hub was designed to foster a collaborative ecosystem focused on accelerating projects, coworking, sustainable entrepreneurship, training and capacity building. Notable features include the installation of ENNO – Energias do Norte and the extension of Academia LIPOR, whose headquarters are in Ermesinde – Valongo, reinforcing the project’s practical and educational dimension.

"In fact, what we have here is not just a pleasant and functional physical space. It is much more than that. It is a catalyst for change, a hub of innovation, a place where solutions are co-created for a more sustainable and, consequently, happier society," emphasised the Chair of LIPOR’s Board of Directors.

The ceremony also included a tribute to architect Susana Carvalho, responsible for the building’s rehabilitation. The intervention sought to preserve the historical identity of the space while projecting a new vision oriented towards the future and sustainability.

The project was funded by the Norte 2030 programme through CCDR-N. The inauguration was marked by the unveiling of the commemorative plaque of the Sustainability Hub.

Cultural and artistic programming also plays a central role in this new space. During the inauguration, for example, a Rendas de Bilros (bobbin lace) workshop was held, led by two lace makers from the Municipality of Vila do Conde, highlighting traditions and intangible heritage.

The programme also included a guided visit to the rehabilitated space, accompanied by a performance by the Banda Marcial de Gueifães, as well as the exhibition "Natureza Entretecida”, developed in partnership with the Municipality of Vila do Conde.

Throughout the day, several activities open to the community took place as part of another Open Day, including an Urban Market, talks, a Repair Café, Home Composting, a Bioblitz and creative workshops, reinforcing the positioning of Casa do Corim – The Place of Sustainability as a participatory and dynamic space for sustainability in the territory.

Casa do Corim’s programme can be followed here (webpage in Portuguese).