Learning from Lisbon or, how postmodernism conquered Portugal

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Abstract

The Amoreiras shopping centre in Lisbon is an icon of Portuguese postmodernism. When it first opened in 1985, its kitsch design stood out conspicuously amidst a landscape of smart Pombaline shopping streets, social housing tower blocks and tourist-friendly houses clad in “traditional” azulejo tiles. But it also reflect-ed a pivotal moment in Portuguese history and still stands today as a reminder of the consum-erist aspirations of post-revolutionary Portu-gal, the neoliberal policies that have come to dominate life in many Western nations and the stark contradictions of global capital-ism. Departing from an initial discussion of Amoreiras, this short essay critically explores recent transformations to Lisbon’s urban and architectural landscape and traces their politi-cal and economic origins. In so doing, it sug-gests ways in which postmodernism might be considered a relevant concept for describing contemporary Portuguese society.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)107-115
Number of pages9
JournalInterações
Issue number40
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Jun 2021

Keywords

  • Postmodernism
  • Lisbon
  • Architecture
  • Urban history
  • Portugal

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