The Journey of SAAL in Italy. An Itinerant Exhibition (1977)

Abstract

Following the outbreak of the Portuguese Revolution on April 25, 1974, and the subsequent creation of SAAL – a semi-state service supporting citizen-led housing initiatives – Italy showed a strong and growing interest in the Portuguese experience. This was first reflected in a series of articles published in major architectural journals, and in the release of Politica e Progetto. Un’Esperienza di Base in Portogallo, the first book dedicated to SAAL. That interest later materialized in the organization of a travelling exhibition across the main schools of architecture in Italy, under the direction of Emilio Battisti and Francesco Marconi, and featuring the participation of Álvaro Siza, Alexandre Alves Costa, and Nuno Portas. The exhibition emerged as a unique moment of cultural exchange, marking the first international presentation of SAAL and prompting the Portuguese architects to construct a narrative around their recent experience. From Turin to Palermo, the three architects travelled across the Italian peninsula, presenting the SAAL process to professors and students, and fostering a meaningful dialogue between the architectural cultures of the two countries. Reconstructing this experience offers the opportunity to identify the key figures who played a decisive role in the dissemination of SAAL in Italy, while investigating their relationships and contributions within a particularly active and dynamic cultural context.