Olivais Norte Tower

This building’s importance was revealed when it won the Valmor Prize in 1968, the first time ever the prize was awarded to a work of a social nature. The urban planning for Olivais Norte promoted the organisation of large “free standing” blocks set in almost natural green spaces, as well as the quality of the landscaping design by Ponce Dentinho. The idea was that the generous dimensions given to residential green spaces would make it possible to lay out the buildings in a close relationship with the movement of the sun, integrating the various types of traffic (pedestrian and vehicles) and, probably the most important aspect, promotion of the harmonised integration of diverse social groups. The towers are an example of an alliance between formal wealth and the conjugation of art in the architecture and space. The detailed integration into the landscape promotes conviviality and representativity in the shared spaces, in addition to the residential spaces being organic and adaptable. There was an overriding idea of giving a certain amount of dignity to the low-cost housing environment, both through the spacious of the access spaces and through the artistic treatment.