O que faz falta. 50 years of portuguese architecture in democracy

Casa da Arquitectura—Portuguese Centre of Architecture, to mark five decades of architecture in Portugal, is participating in the 50th-anniversary commemorations of the Carnation Revolution of April 25, 1974, with the exhibition and catalogue: O que faz falta. 50 years of portuguese architecture in democracy, curated by Jorge Figueira and Ana Neiva, deputy curator.

O que faz falta, also the title of a song by José Afonso released in 1974, highlights the pressing need for architecture as a fundamental right and public service, a reflection of social changes and catalyst in the construction and consolidation of the democratic space.

The selection of 50 works (49 works and one project), further complemented by artistic and cultural material as well as the insights of key figures, emphasises the contribution architects of several generations have made, illustrating the geographical and cultural diversity of the country, and surveying the abundance of scales, strategies and approaches in constant dialogue with an ever-shifting public domain.

Divided into five parts, the Exhibition presents overviews of five key periods in Portuguese architecture, from the Carnation Revolution onwards. Our journey begins with Before, as we are immersed in the repression and cultural resistance which preceded the revolution, providing a backdrop for the periods to come:

Revolution (1974–83)—the revolution of April 25th, 1974, awakened Portugal to a new social, political and cultural reality. While in most of the world, the 1950s and 1960s are years of democratic expansion and experimentation, Portugal is on hold, with cracks beginning to show until the “first full day with a clean slate” comes. Architecture does not start afresh, but gains new agendas and, above all, a new sense of space: one that is democratic;

Europa (1984–93)—with the consolidation of liberal democracy and Portugal’s joining the European Economic Community in 1986, while still bathed in the glow of the revolution, Portuguese architecture gains new expressivity across all kinds of schematic, regional and artistic guidance. These are years of countrywide reinvention, with architecture on the front line. Europe is seen as an opportunity, if also a thorn in the side, for many sectors; in any case, the moment is decisive, to find out who we are;

Fin de Siècle (1994–2003)—the end of the century in Portugal is marked by the euphoria of Expo’98, bookended by the opening of Centro Cultural de Belém and Casa da Música. It is a time of dizzying infrastructural construction, with the country seeking to make up for lost time and architects called to test their mettle in the face of growing formal and technical demands, with the European Union as torch bearer and globalisation as backdrop;

Troika (2004–13)—Portugal faced an economic growth which led to an increase in public and private debt, a subsequent recession and loss of political autonomy. Public investment in cultural infrastructures reflect a confidence in the future, while European funding stimulates the public health system and education sectors. Nevertheless, the post-Troika period, marked by a growing mistrust of political institutions and the rise of anti-austerity movements, results in a drastic reduction in public and private investment, spurring a contracyclical reinvigorated interest in urban renewal and the reuse of existing spaces with a focus on energy efficiency;

Wi-Fi (2014–23)—analyses the period of post-crisis economic recovery, highlighting investments in projects focused on the democratic access to culture and territorial cohesion. The impact of tourism and the need for housing solutions is explored, as well as the growing importance of the climate agenda in contemporary architecture.

The After space concludes the Exhibition, leaving open the debate on the future of architecture in Portugal. It invites the public to actively participate, reflecting on how the building of our democratic spaces is to continue.

Alongside the Exhibition, there will also be a Parallel Programme of events curated by the architects Nuno Sampaio and Jorge Figueira.

O que faz falta. 50 years of portuguese architecture in democracy has received the Honourable Patronage of the President of the Portuguese Republic and the support of the Ministry of Culture, being part of the Official Programme of the Commemorations of 50 Years of April 25.