Research Group
Research Group
Research Group
DINÂMIA'CET-IUL
Centre for Socioeconomic and Territorial Studies
Assistant Researcher

Sara Silva Lopes
research interests
Architecture; Urbanism; Spatial planning; Urban studies; Urban Morphology; Housing; Urban habitat; Right to the city and housing;
Short Bio
Sara Silva lopes is an Architect who graduated at Iscte, University of Lisbon (2015) and is currently working on her PhD thesis in Urban Studies at FCSH.NOVA and Iscte.IUL (2020), with the project "Morfologias e Dinâmicas de Habitação: O impacto da dimensão espacial das políticas públicas de habitação no território metropolitano de Lisboa durante a Democracia" (working title).
Urban and architectural design collaboration carried out in architectural studios between 2016 and 2019, sought to expand her knowledge in the various approaches to transforming the public spaces and the living conditions in cities, and typological solutions, design approaches and technical conditions of housing. Her experience in the issues of housing, public equipment and public space, acquired both through scientific research and professional experience, has contributed to a multidisciplinary and integrated perspective of the ongoing research topics: : Representations of public policies on architecture and territory; Transformations of the Metropolis and Housing; Spatial Planning and Socio-Spatial Intervention; and Urban Morphology.
As an early career researcher and PhD student, she has already published or is about to publish as a co-author 2 articles in indexed journals, 1 book (Atlas), 4 book chapters, participated in dissemination of research works in national and international conferences, with presentations and papers in conference proceedings and was a member of the organizing committee of an international conference. Her final coursework and master's dissertation were distinguished with an honourable mention in the Archiprix Portugal 2016 award, which annually distinguishes the best final coursework and master's dissertations presented in the areas of Architecture, Urbanism and Landscape Architecture.
research project at dinâmia'cet-Iscte
Her research topics are in alignment with the thematic lines of the research group 'Cities and territories' of the Centre for Socioeconomic and Territorial Studies - DINÂMIA'CET-IUL, where she has been working as a researcher since 2019. As researcher of the centre of studies she secured two research grants: "SPLACH - Spatial Planning for Change” and Project "The Grand Projects - Architectural and Urbanistic Operations after the 1998 Lisbon World Exposition".
She works in the areas of Humanities with emphasis on Architecture and Urbanism and Social Sciences with emphasis on Urban Studies and her research focuses on urban production processes, and their impact on the urban territories and urban/architectural design, with interest in the themes of urban morphology studies, spatial planning instruments, public policies, and the rights to the city and housing.
Main publications
Lopes, S. & Marat-Mendes, T. (2023). "As casas não são coisas que se desenhem sem políticas urbanas: Contribuições da forma urbana e arquitectónica para as políticas públicas de nova geração". PNUM 2023 - Morfologia Urbana: Planeamento, Recuperação e Resiliência. Portugal: Sintra.
Marat-Mendes, T.; Lopes, S. S.; Borges, J.C.; d'Almeida, P. Bento. (2022) "Atlas of the Food System: Challenges for a Sustainable Transition of the Lisbon Region". Suiça: Springer Nature, Scientific Publishing Services (P) Ltd., An SPi Global Company.
Lopes, S. (2022). "Recensão do livro: Direitos Humanos e Habitação. Evolução do direito à habitação em Portugal". Cidades, comunidades e territórios, 44: 271-279. https://revistas.rcaap.pt/cct/article/view/27187
Lopes, S.; Borges, J.; Fernandes, R. & Marat-Mendes, T. (2021). "Rediscovering modern ‘civil architecture’: The case of Bela Vista neighbourhood in Setúbal". Conference Optimistic Suburbia 2. Lisbon, Portugal
Borges, J.; Lopes, S.; Fernandes, R. & Marat-Mendes, T. (2021). "Planning at the edge: Urbanism and socio-political transition in Chelas, Lisbon". Planning Perspectives (RPPE)
Main projects
Housing in Democracy: Socio-spatial perspective on social housing policies
(DFA/BD/5568/2021)
The Grand Projects. Architectural and Urbanistic Operations after the 1998 Lisbon World Exposition (PTDC/ARTDAQ/32561/2017).
SPLACH. Spatial Planning for Change (POCI01145FEDER16431).
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