09-02-2009 | "O Balcão"

_Vila Verde presented the "House of the Knowledge"

"This project is a truly spectacular and innovative one. A dream coming true. " This is how the Mayor of City Hall of Vila Verde, Eng º José Manuel Fernandes, called the 'House of the Knowledge', a project before it was introduced simultaneously with the signing of the Protocol of Finance within the ON. 2.

A project that was presented today for the public, simultaneously with the signature of the respective financing protocol, inside the scope of the ON.3. The ceremony was chaired by the President of the City Hall of Vila Verde, Engº José Manuel Fernandes, including the presences of, among others, the representatives of the CCDRN, the executive member of the Executive Committee of On2, Engineer Carlos Duarte, the Rector of the University of Minho, Dr. Guimaraes Rodrigues, the Chairman of the Board of the Computer Graphics Center, Dr. Luis Amaral.

In an auditorium of City Hall crowded with representatives from the local and regional public and private sectors, it was the  Director of Office of Innovation and Development of the City Hall of Vila Verde, Eng Ismael Grace, who presented the project. 'The first of many that are already being developed across the country ", emphasized the Executive Member of the Executive Committee of On2, Eng Carlos Duarte.

Spurred by the municipality of Vila Verde, in partnership with the University of Minho and the Computer Graphics Center, the project "House of the Knowledge 'is estimated at 2.7 million. The architectural design is conducted by the prestigious architect Eduardo Souto Moura (born in Vila Verde), starting with the most innovative concepts in terms of architecture and design for new technologies.

Designed for the Center of Vila Verde, located between the Republic Square and the 5 of October Street, is an urban facility which acts as a facilitator of the knowledge society and innovation in the region. "It will act as a support to develop activities that provide benefits to their citizens by promoting digital cohesion and combating the digital divide and digital illiteracy", said the local coordinator of the project, Engineer Ismael Grace, attached to the Alderman of the trust, António Vilela.

He pointed out that "it is the result of a partnership between the municipality of Vila Verde, the Minho University and the Center for Computer Graphics, enabling a dynamic cooperation between local and regional institutions, embodied in the Association House of the Knowledge".
Defining its concept, he revealed that the House of the Knowledge aims to be "a space of convergence of people and technology, with knowledge and understanding as a common basis. It also aims to put the urban center of Village Verde as a pole of Innovation, Knowledge, Science and Technology acting as a factor to attract people, activities and increasing the dynamics, as well as equipping it with excellent urban infrastructure, a building with the signature of the architect Eduardo Souto Moura.