Remembering Portugal’s SAAL: A Revolution in Housing After the Carnation Revolution

This is an excerpt from Incite-DEM’s comprehensive historical review of civic participation and engagement in Europe, the first of its kind, focusing on democratic innovations aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. Our research focused on the development of democratic innovations from the post-World War II era to the present, highlighting key periods such as the rise of participatory budgeting and deliberative mini publics in the 1980s and 1990s.

The full research will be published in Spring 2025.

The Power of Collective Action

In the wake of Portugal’s Carnation Revolution in the mid-1970s, a groundbreaking initiative called “Operations SAAL” (Serviço Ambulatório de Apoio Local) emerged, forever changing the landscape of urban planning and social housing in the country. SAAL was a bold experiment in participatory architecture, where architects, engineers, social workers, and local residents came together to improve living conditions in poor and informal settlements.

One of the most remarkable aspects of SAAL was its emphasis on community involvement. Residents from various neighborhoods worked hand-in-hand with professionals to shape their own living environments. In Linda-a-Velha, a slum on the outskirts of Lisbon, the SAAL Bº 25 de Abril project stands out as a shining example. This initiative, driven by local residents’ self-organization and democratic decision-making, led to the successful construction of nearly 200 homes. It remains a testament to what can be achieved when communities take charge of their future.

SAAL wasn’t without its challenges. Political, bureaucratic, and financial obstacles, along with ideological tensions over land expropriations and the diminishing role of local authorities, eventually led to its decline. Despite these hurdles, SAAL carried out over 150 operations across Portugal in just two years, involving more than 40,000 families. The program supported the construction of over 2,000 houses, although many projects were left incomplete or significantly altered after the initiative was officially ended in 1976.

A Participatory Approach to Urban Planning

SAAL’s legacy lives on as a pioneering experiment in participatory urban planning that fostered social cohesion and community empowerment. While the program was short-lived, its impact on Portugal’s approach to housing and the importance of community involvement in urban development remains significant.

The story of SAAL is a reminder that when people come together with a shared vision, they can create meaningful and lasting change, even in the face of adversity.