[Archport] Europe’s narrowest building coming down

[leoamarilis@iol.pt]

Europe’s narrowest building coming down
In: The Portugal News online

http://www.the-news.net/

Europe’s narrowest building coming down20/9/2008

At only 1,60m wide, number 16 on Aquiles Monteverde Street, in Lisbon,  
the narrowest building of Europe, faces demolition after building at a  
nearby construction site caused irreparable damage to the façade.
In 2000, construction of a new building started on number 12 and as  
excavations ensued, number 14 partially collapsed as the surrounding  
area was not correctly propped up, and number 16 also sustained  
considerable damage. Manuel Serrão, owner of the property, said “At  
the time people lived there (number 14), but Civil Protection moved  
them out.”
The owner of number 16 wants his counterparts at number 12, a real  
estate developer, to be held responsible for the damage, but his case  
has dragged on since the year of the accident.
Now, eight years later, the property is cordoned off, as deterioration  
over the years has made the building unsafe, and Manuel Serrão has put  
the building up for sale, together with number 14.
“It has been for sale for a long time. The owner of number 14 and I  
have an agreement: we sell both buildings and split the money,” he  
confided, as the building is beyond renovation.
His son and daughter hoped to turn the building into an art gallery:  
“We were waiting for the licence but in the meantime the accident  
occurred.”
During the court case, the family received a letter from Lisbon  
Council which forced them to renovate the building, and if they did  
not, the council would take possession of the building: “We didn’t do  
any renovations, because we are waiting for the court case to finish,  
so I suppose the council has taken possession” lamented Samuel Serrão,  
son of Manuel. Lisbon Council confirmed they had filed a court order  
for renovations but denied statements that they would seize the  
property.
Edition: 977




Lisbon landmark to be demolished 10/6/2006

A Lisbon building, famed for allegedly being the narrowest in Europe,  
may soon be reduced to rubble despite protests from the owners and  
neighbours.
Located in Lisbon's Sao Jorge de Arroios district, number 16, Rua  
Aquiles Monteverde near the Constantino gardens, the three-storey  
building measures only 1.60 metres in width.
However, despite its claim to fame, its degraded state has led the  
city hall to declare it a danger zone and in peril of collapsing, and,  
as it is not classified by the Portuguese Institute of Architectural  
Patrimony, "it is not of municipal interest nor is it a listed or  
protected building".
The building's proprietors claim that the only reason reconstruction  
works have not yet been undertaken is due to the fact they are still  
waiting to be recompensed after an adjoining building was demolished  
some years ago, in turn inflicting extensive damage to the building in  
question.
They also forewarn that should Europe's narrowest building be brought  
down, the two neighbouring buildings will probably fall with it.
Edition: 860


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