What was once unthinkable in Funchal has now become the official solution to the housing crisis. Strong resistance to high-rise construction, previously maintained to preserve the traditional landscape, has given way to housing market pressure, forcing a change in mentality among authorities.
The justification for this shift is that vertical construction allows for better use of scarce land and a reduction in final housing prices. This paradigm shift is exemplified by the history of the Leacock block, which evolved from a family seat linked to Madeira Wine to a modern hub, having been demolished in the early 2000s to make way for the Plaza shopping center and The Vine hotel.
