ABSTRACT
The Algarve's buildings tell the story of a relationship between regionalism and modernism that is different, in some important points, from the generally adopted narratives on the subject. This chapter examines a persistent construct of contemporary Portuguese architectural culture: the myth of post-war regionalism. In a region characterised by conspicuous popular traditions, building implied negotiating the definition of a specific regional identity, where international, national, regional and local actors and agencies converged. Modernism's victory in the post-war Battle of Modern Architecture' was much swifter, more collectively supported and less heroic than is often said. The Algarve emerges as a case where the regional was the stock, strong, deep-rooted in the communities and consistently present throughout the period; modernism was grafted onto it, intensely in post-war years, producing a rich, specifically regional hybrid. The Algarvian architect possessed the knowledge of modern architecture as an intellectual practice, distinguished him from his engineer and house-builder counterparts.
