Casa da Arquitectura Centro Português de Arquitectura

O que faz falta: Seminar S, M, L, XL and the Portugal of the last 50 years

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Already counting down to the exhibition of the same name, which opens its doors at Casa da Arquitectura on 26 October, the seminar ‘O que faz falta: Portugal S, M, L, XL’ will debate issues related to housing, cities, interior design, tourism, immigration, territory and mobility on 11 October. The seminar is free of charge, subject to prior registration. Book your place now HERE

The seminar ‘What's Missing: Portugal S, M, L, XL’ proposes a reading and debate of fundamental themes, from different thematic scales, as part of the parallel programme of the exhibition ‘What's Missing. 50 years of Portuguese architecture in democracy’. Broadening the discussion to areas that transcend architecture, but where architecture plays an important role, personalities from different disciplines and backgrounds are invited to analyse contemporary problems with a long history and increasing prominence, which are placed here at the same time: in Small, the housing crisis will be discussed; in Medium, the issue of medium-sized cities and the interior; in Large, the consequences of mass tourism and immigration in large cities; in Extralarge, the redesign and reorganisation of the territory with the new airport and high-speed rail.

Divided into four major thematic scales, the Seminar will bring together, on 11 October, a number of leading national and international names who will discuss some of the most current and pressing issues with a view to the last 50 years in Portugal.

The Seminar kicks off at 9am on October 11 with a welcome by Nuno Sampaio, executive director of Casa da Arquitectura, followed by a speech by Jorge Figueira, co-curator of the Parallel Programme and of the exhibition ‘O que faz falta: 50 Years of Portuguese Architecture in Democracy’.

This will be followed at 9.30am by the first module - SMALL - dedicated to the theme ‘Home. The issue of the first home, the co-operative model’ with the following panel:

09h00
Welcome: Nuno Sampaio, Executive Director of Casa da Arquitectura
Speech by Jorge Figueira, co-curator of the Parallel Programme for the exhibition ‘What's Missing: 50 Years of Portuguese Architecture in Democracy’.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Julia Albani, historian, curator and architecture critic

ROUND TABLE

Aitor Varea Oro, architect

João Branco and Paula del Rio, architects*

Julia Albani, historian, curator and architecture critic

Moderator: Valdemar Cruz, journalist

The housing crisis is a pressing global problem that architects, urban planners, politicians, technicians, researchers and citizens have been trying to think about and solve. Portugal has a mythical social housing programme in its history (S.A.A.L.) and some successful experiences. But, with increasing incidence in recent years, the crisis has set in. Some solutions have been tried: the co-operative model is being revived with the tools of our time, in pioneering experiments. But what are the reasons for this exponential crisis? How do we get a first home today? What is the role of the state and the market in this context?

At 11am, the MEDIUM module on ‘Living in a medium-sized city. The question of interiority’ brings together the following speakers:

11h00

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: António Cunha, President of the Northern Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDRN)

ROUND TABLE

António Cunha, President of the Northern Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDRN)

Paula Mota Garcia, Coordinator Évora Capital Cultura 2027

Paulo Alexandre Fernandes, Mayor of Fundão

Moderator: Manuel Carvalho, journalist

The desertification of Portugal's interior is a recurring theme in public discussion. The growing dominance of the coast, from Viana do Castelo to Setúbal, is exacerbating the burden of inland living. This fact intersects with the attractiveness of medium-sized cities. What is the value and fate of medium-sized cities? In a country where the capital concentrates more and more people, opportunities and investments, what can redeem living in a medium-sized city - in the interior?

After lunch, the LARGE module will focus on ‘The transformation of large cities. Tourism and immigration issues’ with the following panel of guests:

14h45

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:Rui Pena Pires, Professor ISCTE

ROUND TABLE

Cristina Siza Vieira, CEO Hotel Association Portugal

Paulo Martins Barata, architect

Rui Pena Pires, Professor ISCTE

Moderator: Amílcar Correia, journalist

Two major phenomena are taking over cities, with very different reasons for being, but with consequences that are growing: tourism and immigration. Portugal has always had a low population, even in its largest cities, but it is now being taken over by mass tourism, with unpredictable consequences. The protest movements in Barcelona show us what a sensitive issue this is. On the other hand, the phenomenon of immigration has such a political and social expression that it can decide elections. How can cities deal with the tourists we all are, a mass of transient travellers? And with immigrants, who we are also, as citizens who are treated with dignity?

The day closes with an EXTRALARGE debate on ‘The new airport and the high-speed train. The question of mobility’ with the following speakers:

16h45

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Joan Busquets, architect

ROUND TABLE

Maria do Rosário Partidário, Professor Instituto Superior Técnico

Joan Busquets, Joan Busquets, architect, Barcelona, professor at Harvard University.

José Reis, Professor, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra

Moderator: Carlos Daniel, journalist

History has shown that the mobility of people and goods promotes development. In Portugal, after the motorway cycle, the new airport and high-speed rail have been a conversation that has been postponed, contributing to the country's structural backwardness. In the meantime, the airports, particularly Lisbon, are overloaded and the trains are overcrowded, running at the speed of a few decades ago. What does the future hold? What consequences will the announced investments in the new airport and high-speed railway lines have? What new territory will emerge with these infrastructures?

The seminar is free to attend and must be registered in advance. Guarantee your place at the seminar. Register here

Pick up your ticket at the Casa da Arquitectura ticket office on the day of the event, from 8.00am.

Participation on the day without prior registration is subject to room capacity.

A Certificate of Participation in the Seminar will be issued.

Documents to download