Experimental

The proposal for the construction of 250 housing units in Benfica stems from a careful reading of the territory and the current urban dynamics of Lisbon. Located in an area of high housing pressure, where demand significantly exceeds supply, this new development presents itself as a direct response to the urgent need to expand the stock of affordable housing — combining density, quality, and urban integration.

The plan is based on a grid structured around principles of proximity urbanism, organised through the creation of high-quality public space. Rather than a single central core, the project proposes the formation of multiple centres for collective life — small squares, courtyards, gardens, and seating areas — serving as spaces for community appropriation and local activation. These areas are interlinked by pedestrian pathways, encouraging diverse uses and allowing for informal interpretations and adaptations over time.

The layout of the buildings respects the site's topography, proposing a progressive and adaptable occupation of the land. Phased construction is envisaged from the outset, allowing the development to respond flexibly to financial availability and evolving demand. Each phase maintains its own functional and urban autonomy, ensuring continuity in access, outdoor spaces, and infrastructure.

The construction approach prioritises locally available materials with low environmental impact, compatible with local production capacities. Wherever possible, recycled or reclaimed materials from demolitions — flooring, masonry, metal structures — are integrated into the building process without compromising durability or safety. Construction is rationalised and based on modular components, allowing for faster execution, lower costs, and easier future maintenance.

More than a collection of buildings, the Benfica proposal aspires to form a new fragment of the city: liveable, appropriable, and permeable — capable of accommodating diverse ways of living and actively contributing to the creation of useful, collective, and adaptable public space.