C.H. CARCAVELOS

The Carcavelos Social Housing District saw its role in the growth of Matosinhos, initially more peripheral, assimilated into the context of the more structured urban fabric that came to be given to the city, as a unit with a life of its own, autonomous and segregated from urban life, intended for sectors of the population with fewer resources.

Its location was moved to areas on the outskirts of the center of Matosinhos, replacing shacks in precarious conditions and designing a little more of the city, in its relationship with the recent street layouts to the east of Av. D. Afonso Henriques.

The initial project, designed by architect Joaquim Bento Lousan, dates from 1975 and saw the execution of its works integrated into the SAAL (Local Support Ambulatory Service) program launched after the revolution of April 25, 1974.

The renovation of this housing complex was part of a European funding program, promoted by the municipal company MatosinhosHabit, which is responsible for managing public housing in the municipality of Matosinhos. The aim was to carry out a series of works necessary to preserve its state of conservation.

The project began in 2017 and the work was carried out three years later, between 2020 and the end of 2022. We quickly realized the value and quality of the project, which led us to take an interest in the author and his work.

This interest gave rise to a publication promoting the renovation of what will be one of Bento Lousan's most important

projects, seeking to contribute to the dissemination of his work.