archives
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Collection
CD034
Synopsis:
The SAAL Process exhibition collection consists of reproductions of several objects used in the exhibition “The SAAL Process, Housing in Portugal 1974–76.” It was created by the Museu Serralves and travelled to the Canadian Center for Architecture (CCA) in 2015. The collection contains reproductions of drawings, presentation panels and photographs dating from 1974 to 1979. Born out of the Portuguese Revolution of 25 April 1974, the Serviço Ambulatório de Apoio Local (Local Ambulatory Support Service) was a pioneering architectural and political experiment designed to address extreme housing shortages and poor living conditions in Portuguese cities.
1974-1979
The SAAL Process exhibition collection
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CD034
Synopsis:
The SAAL Process exhibition collection consists of reproductions of several objects used in the exhibition “The SAAL Process, Housing in Portugal 1974–76.” It was created by the Museu Serralves and travelled to the Canadian Center for Architecture (CCA) in 2015. The collection contains reproductions of drawings, presentation panels and photographs dating from 1974 to 1979. Born out of the Portuguese Revolution of 25 April 1974, the Serviço Ambulatório de Apoio Local (Local Ambulatory Support Service) was a pioneering architectural and political experiment designed to address extreme housing shortages and poor living conditions in Portuguese cities.
archives
Level of archival description:
collection
1974-1979
articles
Desire Paths
19 May 2026
Desire Paths
Giovanna Borasi interviews Álvaro Siza on his approach to community engagement in Évora
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journals and magazines
ARCH271658
Description:
Issue of April 7, 1980, vol. XCV, no. 14 of "Newsweek" with an the article "The Solar Revolution" about solar homes including Kelbaugh House in Princeton, New Jersey.
April 7, 1980
Article on solar energy featuring Kelbaugh House
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ARCH271658
Description:
Issue of April 7, 1980, vol. XCV, no. 14 of "Newsweek" with an the article "The Solar Revolution" about solar homes including Kelbaugh House in Princeton, New Jersey.
journals and magazines
April 7, 1980
Project
Leal, Porto
CD034.S1.1974.PR02
Description:
This project series contains eight reproductions of drawings displayed in the exhibit to document the Leal neighbourhood, in Porto, Portugal. The exhibit text explained that the project: ... pioneered the concept of community association, with the first resident activities dating back to the early 1970s. In 1974, immediately after the revolution, the residents opposed the building of a car park that would have involved their relocation and resettlement. The project of the architect Sérgio Fernandez, which originated in a pre-revolutionary resident organization, was conceived through the dynamics of the resident process, and had a project-oriented clarity that came from an economic sense of design, adapting to the needs and political character of the intervention. (The SAAL Process, Housing in Portugal 1974–76) Sérgio Fernandez worked for SAAL/North with António Corte Real, Carlos Delfim, Emídio Fonseca, José Manuel Soares, Vítor Sinde and the residents' association Bairro do Leal, that was founded on April 30th, 1975. The first phase of the project included 16 dwellings and the second, 33 dwellings. The operation began in October 1974, with a construction date in April 1976. This project series contains reproductions of design development drawings, cadastral and implementation plans, and an axonometric view. The original drawings were produced in 1975 and were reproduced in 2015 for the exhibit.
1975
Leal, Porto
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CD034.S1.1974.PR02
Description:
This project series contains eight reproductions of drawings displayed in the exhibit to document the Leal neighbourhood, in Porto, Portugal. The exhibit text explained that the project: ... pioneered the concept of community association, with the first resident activities dating back to the early 1970s. In 1974, immediately after the revolution, the residents opposed the building of a car park that would have involved their relocation and resettlement. The project of the architect Sérgio Fernandez, which originated in a pre-revolutionary resident organization, was conceived through the dynamics of the resident process, and had a project-oriented clarity that came from an economic sense of design, adapting to the needs and political character of the intervention. (The SAAL Process, Housing in Portugal 1974–76) Sérgio Fernandez worked for SAAL/North with António Corte Real, Carlos Delfim, Emídio Fonseca, José Manuel Soares, Vítor Sinde and the residents' association Bairro do Leal, that was founded on April 30th, 1975. The first phase of the project included 16 dwellings and the second, 33 dwellings. The operation began in October 1974, with a construction date in April 1976. This project series contains reproductions of design development drawings, cadastral and implementation plans, and an axonometric view. The original drawings were produced in 1975 and were reproduced in 2015 for the exhibit.
Project
1975
Following the revolution of 25 April 1974 in Portugal, the architect Alexandre Alves Costa became a member of the Coordinating Committee of SAAL North Sector, responsible for planning and project support. Together with José António Bandeirinha, architect and Professor at the University of Coimbra, he will discuss the new role of the architect during the SAAL process,(...)
Paul-Desmarais Theatre
17 September 2015, 6PM
SAAL 1974: Inclusive Architecture in Portugal
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Description:
Following the revolution of 25 April 1974 in Portugal, the architect Alexandre Alves Costa became a member of the Coordinating Committee of SAAL North Sector, responsible for planning and project support. Together with José António Bandeirinha, architect and Professor at the University of Coimbra, he will discuss the new role of the architect during the SAAL process,(...)
Paul-Desmarais Theatre
Born out of the Portuguese revolution of 25 April 1974, the Serviço Ambulatório de Apoio Local (Local Ambulatory Support Service) was a pioneering architectural and political experiment designed to address extreme housing shortages and poor living conditions in Portuguese cities. There was not only one SAAL: its initiatives and results varied widely depending on complex(...)
Main galleries
12 May 2015 to 4 October 2015
The SAAL Process: Housing in Portugal 1974–76
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Description:
Born out of the Portuguese revolution of 25 April 1974, the Serviço Ambulatório de Apoio Local (Local Ambulatory Support Service) was a pioneering architectural and political experiment designed to address extreme housing shortages and poor living conditions in Portuguese cities. There was not only one SAAL: its initiatives and results varied widely depending on complex(...)
Main galleries
archives
Level of archival description:
Fonds
Álvaro Siza fonds
AP178
Description:
The Álvaro Siza fonds documents the architectural work of Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza. Records in this fonds document Siza’s projects from 1958-2012, including built and unbuilt designs. A collaborative project was established between the Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA), Fundação de Serralves, and Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian to allow for international research and access to the archive. The archive is shared by the three institutions with each institution holding different projects while collaborating on the descriptive work and increasing the visibility of the archive. The holdings at both the Fundação de Serralves and Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian focus on Siza’s Portuguese projects, while the portion of the archive held by the CCA mainly includes Siza’s projects abroad. All three institutions are committed to describing the archive and making it accessible for scholarly research. The processing of the Siza archive held by the CCA has been divided into four phases to allow for access to parts of the archive while still in process. For the first, second, and third phases, the processing archivist has described the projects from the fifties, sixties, and seventies, as well as projects for the IBA competition in Berlin, urban renewal projects in The Hague from the eighties, urban plans, museums, and individual houses between 1980 and 2000. The processing archivist has also described approximately 203 sketchbooks. Many of these sketchbooks include sketches related to architectural projects which were processed. The complete list of projects processed by the CCA to date can be found in series AP178.S1. The bulk of the Álvaro Siza fonds is arranged in Series AP178.S1, which contains documentation for over 200 of Siza’s architectural projects. Records in this archive are predominantly from 1970 to 2000. Series AP178.S1 mainly contains conceptual, design development, presentation, and working drawings. Also included are photographic materials, models, born digital records, and textual documentation, which include correspondence, project proposals, and notes. The architect’s creative process is captured in 282 sketchbooks arranged in Series AP178.S2. In all there are approximately 60 000 drawings, 3000 folders of textual documentation, 9.46 linear meters of photographs and negatives, 6,545 slides, 250 CD-ROMS, 101 floppy disks, and 371 models that document the architectural activities of Siza and his office. Among the drawings are sketches by Siza on various items, such as napkins, receipts, envelopes, or on the back of working drawings. The fonds contains several types of architectural projects including residential buildings, museums, universities, urban plans, offices, and city restorations. Of particular significance are the sketchbooks, comprised of sketches for architectural projects, Siza’s travels, people, and animals as well as notes and draft letters. The sketchbooks are organized in chronological order, starting in the late 1970’s to the beginning of the 2000’s. Locations, notes, and dates have also been identified on the front of each sketchbook along with the sketchbook number. The sketchbooks provide a unique perspective of Siza’s use of drawing as part of his work process.
1958-2002
Álvaro Siza fonds
Actions:
AP178
Description:
The Álvaro Siza fonds documents the architectural work of Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza. Records in this fonds document Siza’s projects from 1958-2012, including built and unbuilt designs. A collaborative project was established between the Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA), Fundação de Serralves, and Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian to allow for international research and access to the archive. The archive is shared by the three institutions with each institution holding different projects while collaborating on the descriptive work and increasing the visibility of the archive. The holdings at both the Fundação de Serralves and Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian focus on Siza’s Portuguese projects, while the portion of the archive held by the CCA mainly includes Siza’s projects abroad. All three institutions are committed to describing the archive and making it accessible for scholarly research. The processing of the Siza archive held by the CCA has been divided into four phases to allow for access to parts of the archive while still in process. For the first, second, and third phases, the processing archivist has described the projects from the fifties, sixties, and seventies, as well as projects for the IBA competition in Berlin, urban renewal projects in The Hague from the eighties, urban plans, museums, and individual houses between 1980 and 2000. The processing archivist has also described approximately 203 sketchbooks. Many of these sketchbooks include sketches related to architectural projects which were processed. The complete list of projects processed by the CCA to date can be found in series AP178.S1. The bulk of the Álvaro Siza fonds is arranged in Series AP178.S1, which contains documentation for over 200 of Siza’s architectural projects. Records in this archive are predominantly from 1970 to 2000. Series AP178.S1 mainly contains conceptual, design development, presentation, and working drawings. Also included are photographic materials, models, born digital records, and textual documentation, which include correspondence, project proposals, and notes. The architect’s creative process is captured in 282 sketchbooks arranged in Series AP178.S2. In all there are approximately 60 000 drawings, 3000 folders of textual documentation, 9.46 linear meters of photographs and negatives, 6,545 slides, 250 CD-ROMS, 101 floppy disks, and 371 models that document the architectural activities of Siza and his office. Among the drawings are sketches by Siza on various items, such as napkins, receipts, envelopes, or on the back of working drawings. The fonds contains several types of architectural projects including residential buildings, museums, universities, urban plans, offices, and city restorations. Of particular significance are the sketchbooks, comprised of sketches for architectural projects, Siza’s travels, people, and animals as well as notes and draft letters. The sketchbooks are organized in chronological order, starting in the late 1970’s to the beginning of the 2000’s. Locations, notes, and dates have also been identified on the front of each sketchbook along with the sketchbook number. The sketchbooks provide a unique perspective of Siza’s use of drawing as part of his work process.
archives
Level of archival description:
Fonds
1958-2002
books
Description:
262 pages : illustrations, facsimiles ; 23 cm
Oakland, CA : PM Press, 2012.
Portugal, the impossible revolution? / by Phil Mailer.
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Description:
262 pages : illustrations, facsimiles ; 23 cm
books
Oakland, CA : PM Press, 2012.
books
Description:
224 pages ; 23 cm
London : Lawrence and Wishart, 1975.
Art and revolution / by David Alfaro Siqueiros ; [translation made from the original Spanish texts by Sylvia Calles].
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Description:
224 pages ; 23 cm
books
London : Lawrence and Wishart, 1975.
books
Description:
2-113 pages illustrations (including 2 color), plans, portraits 26 cm
London, Arts Council of Great Britain [1971]
Art in revolution: Soviet art and design since 1917.
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Description:
2-113 pages illustrations (including 2 color), plans, portraits 26 cm
books
London, Arts Council of Great Britain [1971]