Housing and Democracy: 50 years of Local Support Ambulatory Service (SAAL) interventions

This research adopts a historical, social, and cultural approach to analyze and illustrate the evolution of participatory architecture in Portugal, exploring its connections with critical theory and international practices. The study seeks to celebrate the achievements of the SAAL interventions while drawing inspiration from their strategies to actively contribute to a more inclusive and promising future for local communities. By addressing questions concerning the current state of SAAL interventions, how residents organize their lives and activities, and the potential for participatory interventions today and in the future, the research follows a chronological framework that considers past experiences, present conditions, and future possibilities. Focusing on four key aspects - social relations, the built environment, participatory policies and practices, and collective memory - the study provides a renewed perspective on SAAL interventions, on four neighborhoods in Portugal: Fonsecas and Calçada in Lisbon (by Hestnes Ferreira, October 1974), Lapa in Porto (by Matos Ferreira, November 1974), Maceda in Porto (by Soutinho, October 1974), and Pego Longo in Sintra (by Costa Cabral, August 1975). Reflecting on the fragility of the SAAL process, which was cut short before fully realizing its potential, this research aims to reassess these neighborhoods 50 years later. By revisiting its legacy, we propose to empower local communities and advocate for a more sustainable and participatory future.