“The Assembly of the Republic, gathered in plenary session, expresses its deep condolences to the family and friends of Nuno Portas, whose legacy will remain in the way we organize territory and live in cities, constantly reminding us of the right to housing and urbanism as a form of space organization that strives for more equality and civic participation,” reads the statement.
The motion, presented by the PS, was unanimously approved.
In the galleries of the parliament were family members of Nuno Portas, including his son, Paulo Portas, former leader of the CDS-PP.
Nuno Rodrigo Martins Portas, a prominent figure in Portuguese culture, was born on September 23, 1934, in São Bartolomeu, municipality of Vila Viçosa, Évora district. A renowned thinker, researcher, and promoter of housing and urban policies in Portugal and abroad, Nuno Portas gained international recognition, particularly in Spain and Brazil.
With a multifaceted career, Portas combined academic activity, theoretical production, civic intervention, and professional practice. He worked with the United Nations, the European Union, and the Spanish architect Oriol Bohigas (1925-2021) on projects for Rio de Janeiro, such as the Waterfront Plan and the Central Zone Recovery Plan. In Cape Verde, he contributed to the legislative framework for urbanism.
In the political sphere, he was appointed Secretary of State for Housing and Urbanism following the April 25 Revolution, in the first three Provisional Governments (1974-1975). In this role, he spearheaded a profound reform of the sector, promoting housing cooperatives, the SAAL, and laying the foundations for the current Municipal Master Plans. In 1990, he served as city councilor for urbanism in Vila Nova de Gaia.
Among the honors awarded to him are the Grand Cross of the Order of Infante D. Henrique and the Sir Patrick Abercrombie Prize from the International Union of Architects. Nuno Portas received, alongside architect Nuno Teotónio Pereira, the Valmor Prize in 1975 for the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church project in Lisbon.
