Architects of Freedom

Houses and women have immemorial links. All over the world, the fight for the right to housing was and is a women’s struggle. In Portugal, the April 1974 Revolution inherited a heavy legacy: women were considered second-class citizens, there was a shortage of houses to live in and shantytowns, patios and islands proliferated in the largest cities. Residents (particularly the poorest), architects, social workers and others became involved in demanding decent housing. Enshrined in the 1976 Constitution, the right to housing remains unfulfilled today, as do other rights for girls and women.

“Architects of Freedom” talks about them. Around women and the houses they fought for, before and after April 25, 1974, the artistic creation combines history, oral and visual sources. The exhibition will be chronological, thematic and interdisciplinary. It starts from their experiences and life stories, looking at their knowledge and gestures. The traveling exhibition will include talks by guests who were involved in this historical period and guided tours. Every moment will be recorded, thus helping to build an archive of memories around April 25, women’s rights and the struggle for the home, and to share stories, concerns, projects, needs and desires that encourage us to think about social transformation, equality and freedom, and democracy in Portugal today.

Organization + Curatorship + Research + Communication: Women in Architecture Association (MA)
MA Team: Ana Arantes, Ana Catarino, Catarina Dente, Cátia Ramos, Chloé Darmon, Joana Pestana Lages, Lia Antunes, Patrícia Santos Pedrosa, Paula Miranda
Graphic design: Lisa Moura (Frau im Mond)
Illustrations: Mafalda Salgueiro