The 43rd and final 2021 issue of CIDADES, Comunidades e Territórios presents a thematic dossier dedicated to architecture. Inspired by the theme of the international conference behind it (Grand Projects - Urban Legacies of the late 20th Century), the set of articles and other texts provides a wide and inspiring reflection on the impacts and urban (and social) transformations resulting from major architectural projects that marked the end of the twentieth century, in Portugal and abroad. Despite the selection of articles for this dossier being only a small sample of the wide range of themes and perspectives related to the urban legacy of major architectural projects, its reading will not fail to raise timely and inspiring reflections among interested audiences, far beyond architects.

Apart from the thematic dossier, five articles, an essay and a book review complete the array of the 43rd issue of CIDADES, Comunidades e Territórios. The first article takes us to the Natural Park of Ria Formosa, in the south of Portugal, to explore the theme of place attachment. “Contributing and disruptive factors to Place attachment: The inhabitants of Fuzeta and their connection to the Ria Formosa”, authored by João Filipe Marques and Flávio Aleixo, proposes a new analytical model to understand not only the meanings, feelings and values that a community of residents and fishermen attribute to their place of living, work and leisure, but also the sense of responsibility that is (or should be) developed in a territory as sensitive and subject to so many pressures and activities as the Ria Formosa Natural Park.

The second article proposes a different perspective on a theme that is not far from place attachment. “What happens when teenagers reason public open spaces? Lessons learnt from co-creation in Lisbon” is authored by Carlos Smaniotto Costa, Joana Solipa Batista and Marluci Menezes, and explores the teenagers’ perspective on the placemaking and co-creation of public open spaces. Besides the fact that there is not much research on the subject dedicated specifically to this age group, the article also brings new clues about some effects of the pandemic on the teenagers’ way of being, living and co-creating public spaces. The living labs conducted by the authors in the scope of the case study revealed that teenagers not only request an improved quality of the cities’ public space, in what regards mobility, meeting, and socialising purposes, but, along with people of all ages, they also need to be more motivated and capacitated to reflect on urbanity.

“Exploring lived space of new build urban environment through photovoice interview. The case of Donau City in Vienna” is the title of the third article, written by Sandra Guinand, Anahí Montalvo Rojo and Mark Scherner. Focusing on a bottom-up approach related to the spatial production, the article takes us to Austria to, through an innovative methodology involving commented photographs (or interviews illustrated by photographs) decode perceptions, appropriations, feelings and values that residents develop in relation to their lived space. Notwithstanding the transversal usefulness of this type of spatial analysis, its relevance becomes more evident when dealing with a new built environment, as the case under analysis. Aspects such as lack of social interaction, social fragmentation or dysfunctional environments may be softened through different types of spatial interventions, which justifies the added value of this type of study.

From Austria we move on to Nigeria with the fourth article, entitled “Tenure insecurity and incremental housing development in the peri-urban interface of Ibadan, Nigeria”, from Moruf Alabi, Taiwo Babalola and Ayobami Popoola. Despite the timely relevance of its central question, this article also deserves to be highlighted for the fact that it provides a portrait of the housing and social problems faced by a large part of the Nigerian people. Knowledge about this reality, as scarce as it may be, is important not only to better understand the similarities and differences that can be established with different cities located on different continents but, above all, to highlight the deep inequalities (in housing, education, economics, etc.) that many continue to face in multiple countries, like this example from Nigeria.

The fifth and last article refers to a completely different theme, but no less useful for those interested in the evolution of the architectural profession in Portugal and the role played by research. “Research in the architect’s professional practice” is authored by Patrícia Bento d’Almeida, Teresa Marat-Mendes and Michel Toussaint, and is based on a detailed analysis of specialized publications to portray a relevant path of the practice of architecture over a significant period of time, in order to consolidate what the profession is today. The complex relationship that still persists between the practice and theory of architecture easily passes unnoticed to the understanding of laymen in the field. However, the reading of this article, which also draws on the testimonies of people directly involved in the discussion of the central theme, allows a good and fruitful contextualization on the evolution of architecture in Portugal in the last decades.

In the essay’s section “The city as a text: Approximations between anthropology, urbanism and space semiotics” is presented, authored by Patrícia Falco Genovez and José Luiz Cazarotto. Starting from key authors linked to history, linguistics, philosophy, semiology, architecture and other related scientific areas, this essay proposes an alternative reading of the concept of city as the central element of a reasoning, which also evolves into the social body of inhabitants. Two empirical case studies are presented as a complement and illustration to the authors' argument, one in Boston, United States of America, and the other one in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Through them the authors seek to demonstrate how urban space is not only produced through meanings, symbols and values that arise from the permanent interaction people/ lived space, as any disruptive event affecting the urban space also impacts people considerably, both socially and emotionally.

Concluding this issue, Alda Gonçalves presents Staffing Homelessness Services in Europe in the book review section. This report is the tenth comparative study promoted by the European Observatory on Homelessness/FEANTSA, whose main objective was to analyse the practices of workers providing services to homeless people in 15 European Union member states. The study is based on the results of a survey addressed to experts in the member states. Although the analysis focuses on workers who provide services to people experiencing homelessness, this study is also important for placing the topic and its urgency on the international political agenda, once it has not always received enough attention from the European member states in particular, and from other countries more generally.

Closing 2021, the second in this gruelling pandemic, we would like to thank all the authors and reviewers who have collaborated with CIDADES, Comunidades e Territórios along the four issues published, as well as the readers for their confidence in the work carried out. Best wishes and an excellent and inspiring 2022 to all.