VIRTUAL Lisbon Livable Cities

Abstract

The self-built neighborhood of Segundo Torrão, in Almada, represents a facet of socio-spatial inequalities in the Greater Lisbon area, resulting from large-scale capitalist urbanization. Forced evictions, coercive resettlements, and the lack of community participation in public policies are some of the exclusionary dimensions that intensify the vulnerability of its residents. This study, conducted in 2023, investigated local resistance dynamics and survival strategies, situating them within the framework of recent housing policies, such as the “Mais Habitação” program (2023-2024). The research analyzed the physical and social transformations of the neighborhood since its formation in the 1970s, highlighting the need for inclusive solutions that ensure in-situ permanence and residents’ well-being, following the right to the city approach (Lefebvre, 1964). The findings contribute to the national debate on housing rights and underscore the urgency of producing public policies that encourage and promote popular participation in the co-construction of fairer cities (Harvey, 2009). Recent initiatives, such as the Gueto Family collective, which uses rap as a form of social intervention, and the exhibition Archaeologies of Destruction, which explores memories and narratives of resistance through digital art, inform this study by demonstrating how digital media can amplify local voices. This research proposes integrating such approaches to build collaborative representations that document memories, expose inequalities, and present transformative alternatives for Segundo Torrão. The study concludes that community resistance is essential for creating fairer housing solutions, emphasizing the need for participatory practices in public policies. Lefebvre, Henri (2012 [1968]). The Right to the City. Letra Livre. Harvey, D. (2009). Social Justice and the City (Revised edition). University of Georgia Press.