Building with limited resources in times of revolution. Construction processes in Social Housing by Alvaro Siza in the early 1970s

Abstract

The aftermath of the Carnation Revolution (1974) in Portugal included high demand for affordable housing despite the longstanding context of post-war resource scarcity. This paper addresses the development of the innovative and qualified construction process by the Local Ambulatory Support Service (SAAL) that emphasized popular participation and self-construction. This paper aims to deepen analysis of the participatory housing construction process within a context of resource scarcity, focusing on the actors, the construction systems and building materials. Following previous experiences, Alvaro Siza designed two neighborhoods in Porto for SAAL: S. Vitor [1974-1975] and Bono [1975-1978]. While the former responded swiftly to the urgent need for housing, with modules designed for self-construction using readily available materials, the latter represented an adaptation of a pre-revolution project optimized for economy through its rational design and material use. The research methodology incorporates the cross-analysis of archival and bibliographical research, in situ analysis of the buildings, and the production of 3D drawings of representative construction sections and details. This paper aims to deepen the analysis of the construction process of participatory housing in the context of scarcity of resources, focusing on the building actors, construction systems and materials. The results demonstrate the innovative and qualified solutions achieved through strategies such as self-construction, simple finishes, prefabrication and high design standards underpinning the control of all details. In a context where interventions with a strong urban character were being debated, Siza recognizes the difficulty in assuming the boundary between plan and project (Siza 2000, 85), reflected in various interventions at different scales.