Das Memórias às Aspirações do Presente: O caso do Bairro da Cadeia em Viseu

Abstract

The rural exodus of the 1920s and 30s was one of the main factors that contributed to the construction of illegal housing in Portuguese cities. This phenomenon gave rise to blighted areas residences of poor conditions, and economically disadvantaged families. There was a surgent need to build decent housing for these people as a way of solving their unsanitary and overcrowded housing conditions. Despite some attempts at the beginning of the "Primeira República" it is during the "Estado Novo" (1933-1974) that the economic housing first program was lauched in 1933. This ensured that social housing was to be developed in Portugal as a response to the poverty of some families. The State defended the individual dwelling units, which was a model adopted as an architectural solution for various social neighborhoods. The idea would be to somehow import the model garden city. The housing program did not achieve the expected results, other programs were launched with the same goal in mind. As a result in 1945 a program for lower income housing emerged called "Programa de Casas para Famílias Pobres". The "Bairro Municipal de Viseu" was built under that program. What were the principals governing the design and construction of the module of individual houses? Do these architectural ensembles still respond to the needs of the population? What changes have they experienced up until today? What is its value in regards to architecture and history? How could one intervene architecturally in a response to contemporary life? Based on the study and analysis of the "Bairro Municipal de Viseu", I saught to answer these issues and present possible strategies for rehabilitation of this particular case study.