Bouça
Born from the Portuguese revolution of 25 April 1974, SAAL (Local Ambulatory Support Service) was a pioneering architectural and political programme designed to address the extreme housing shortages and poor living conditions in Portuguese cities. The programme emphasised the socialisation of the housing process, encouraging collective undertakings. Álvaro Siza Vieira is the foremost representative of Portuguese architecture and one of the most important figures in SAAL. Siza Vieira designed two housing projects in Oporto in the 1970s aimed at addressing the severe housing crisis in the city: Bairro de S. Víctor and Bairro da Bouça. Bairro da Bouça has 128 homes, organised in 4 blocks, with small gardens and shared courtyards. At the end of each block, we find 3 small geometric volumes, with some shared facilities and an underground park.
