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Home » Success Cases » Opening doors to a better future: Link101 brings NOVA University’s Rede 1/4 housing solution to life
Case Studies

Opening doors to a better future: Link101 brings NOVA University’s Rede 1/4 housing solution to life

2026/04/10

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Categorization:
Experience Engineering

Challenge

Portugal faces a severe student housing crisis. Over 175,000 students relocate each year to pursue higher education, yet fewer than 10% secure a place in student residences. Many end up living in inadequate conditions or are forced to abandon their studies due to unaffordable housing. NOVA University Lisbon needed a solution that not only addressed the lack of student accommodation but also promoted social inclusion and intergenerational connections, offering a more human, community‑focused approach to a growing national problem.

Solution

NOVA partnered with Link101, the creative agency of the Link Group, to design and launch rede 1/4, a human‑centered initiative that helps students find safe, affordable housing by connecting them with hosts who have spare rooms.

The project began with an invitation from the Egov team to support a preliminary consultation. After this first collaboration, Link101 won the public tender to create the full brand and communication ecosystem behind rede 1/4. Link101 delivered:

Brand & Communication Foundation

  • Naming, branding and visual identity, defining the distinctive and approachable personality of rede 1/4
  • Brand positioning, articulating the project’s mission: solving housing challenges through community connection
  • Website development, including content, design and launch of www.redeumquarto.pt
  • Communication materials for all physical and digital touchpoints
  • Digital and social media campaigns to raise awareness, engage potential hosts and inform students

Matching Platform (Link101 + Egov)

Following this success, Link101 — supported by the Egov team — also secured the tender to build the digital matching platform, launching in early 2025. This platform will:
  • streamline the matching process between hosts and students
  • ensure a trusted and verified onboarding experience
  • support secure communication and simplified decision‑making
  • enable the initiative to scale at national level
Rede 1/4 is now positioned as an innovative, socially driven solution that unites design, technology and community impact.

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