Born out of the Portuguese revolution of 1974, the Serviço
Ambulatório de Apoio Local (SAAL) was one of the most compelling
processes in 20th-century architecture. A pioneering experiment in
Europe, it set up technical teams led by architects who, in
collaboration with the local population, tried to address the urgent
housing needs of communities across the nation. The teams were
reinventing architectural practice, from surveying living conditions to
monitoring land expropriation, designing projects with the residents
directly. This volume includes new essays along with historic texts, an
interview with some of the major figures involved, and extensive project
documentation.
