481 homes. That’s how many dwellings were built in Bairro do Arco do Cego. This isn’t just any neighborhood. It’s a piece of Lisbon’s history. A testament to social housing. Bairro do Arco do Cego stands as Portugal’s first social housing project. Commissioned during the First Republic in 1919 its initial design envisioned a working-class neighborhood.
Architects Adães Bermudes Frederico Caetano de Carvalho and Edmundo Tavares shaped its early plans. The project however shifted gears. By 1927 the Lisbon City Council took over transforming it into housing for the lower middle class particularly civil servants. Construction wrapped up in 1935.
The Bairro do Arco do Cego’s layout is remarkable. Encased within a rectangle it’s oriented on orthogonal axes. Picture this 45 rectangular blocks arranged symmetrically around Avenida Magalhães Lima. The architecture is eclectic a blend of styles. This creates a rich diversity of housing types. Buildings range from two to three-story square blocks to rows of two-story single-family homes.
A significant landmark within Bairro do Arco do Cego is the D. Filipa de Lencastre Secondary School. Initially designed in 1932 by architect Jorge Segurado as a primary school. It was later adapted into a secondary school in 1938. This was part of the Estado Novo regime’s plan to build 13 lyceums. The school’s symmetrical design beautifully blends rationalist functionality with the eclecticism of its surroundings.
The Bairro do Arco do Cego holds a special place in Lisbon’s history. It represents a planned approach to addressing housing needs for the less fortunate. The project embodied the concept of housing as a right. It should be equipped with hygienic standards and necessary facilities. This spirit guided the construction of these unique homes meant for people from various social backgrounds. Over its 77 years of existence these homes were gradually sold to their residents. Its story continues to echo through the streets. A story of social progress and architectural ingenuity.