Abstract

BENTO D’ALMEIDA, Patrícia  and  MARAT-MENDES, Teresa. The value of scientific research in architecture and urbanism developed at LNEC (1961-1979) in the face of contemporary sustainability challenges. CIDADES [online]. 2021, vol.sp21, pp.15-40.  Epub Apr 15, 2021. ISSN 2182-3030.  https://doi.org/10.15847/cct.20392.

Since the implementation of its first organic law, the Portuguese National Laboratory for Civil Engineering (LNEC) constitutes one of the rare public organisms that develops scientific research in architecture and urbanism. Initiated by the architect Nuno Portas at the Construction and Housing Division (1961-1969), which belonged to the Buildings and Bridges Service, this line of research was later continued at the Architecture Division (1969-1979) from the renamed Buildings Service. The main research works and daily practices that outlined the research themes and methodologies conducted at that specific time are contextualized. These same problems are also confronted in the face of contemporary societal challenges imposed by the issue of sustainability, namely in the indication of planning guidelines for a sustainable transition of the contemporary food system, under analysis in the research project SPLACH - Spatial Planning for Change project. As a major contribution, we conclude the importance of multidisciplinary research and the need for its close connection with the practical and daily realities of those who live in cities.

Keywords : The Portuguese National Laboratory for Civil Engineering; scientific research; architecture; urbanism; sustainability.

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