THE CONSERVATION OF ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE ANDHISTORIC CITIES IN BRAZIL, WITH PARTICULAR

REFERENCE TO THE STATE OF MINAS GERAIS AND THECITY OF MARIANA.

Dr. Altino Barbosa CaldeiraLecturer at PhD-GIS Program and Joint Professor at Department of

Architecture and Urbanism at Catholic University of Minas Gerais, BrazilArchitect of IPHAN

Commission VII, Working Group 2

KEY WORDS: architectural heritage, historic cities, mapping of Mariana

ABSTRACT

This piece of work analyses the existing condition of Brazilian architectural heritage,focusing especially on the historic cities. The study, first of all, analyses the Brazilianhistorical background with the purpose of establishing a relationship between thecircumstances and conditions in which these cities were created. Initially, thescenery of the landscape, the geographical aspects of nature, the climate and thepeople who converged to primitive Brazil, thus initiating the Brazilian diversity ofculture and behaviour. Historical, political, social, and financial factors which wereinvolved in the construction of these cities are also shown to facilitate theunderstanding of their character and meaning.The aim of this study is to analyze aspects of the conservation of listed buildings inthese special areas known as historic cities. In order to evaluate the extent of theproblem, and because the Brazilian official institution which is responsible for caringfor the heritage is supported by the government, specific situations occurring indifferent regions will be shown. The legislation related to the protection of the listedartefacts in which are included listed buildings and also urban areas is analyzed in itsapplication and results. This study takes into account the most importantconcentration of historic cities in Brazil, which were constructed in the eighteenthcentury, in the state of Minas Gerais, and then, describes the in-depth researchconducted in one of these special cities - Mariana - to provide data and arguments forthe evaluation of the protection of historic cities in Brazil. Looking initially at thewhole of the Brazilian architectural heritage values, and then focusing on a specialarea in order to study and evaluate rules and schemes concerning the protection andconservation of the historic cities, this research aims to find a methodology for therestoration and conservation of those cities as a whole

In 1745, a new city was planned in order to bethe headquarters of the first bishopric of thecolonial area. It seems that it was builtaccording to a plan made by a military engineernamed Alpoim, as shown in the map below(Fig. 3).

This led to an urban site of singular appearancein which improvements such as streets pavedwith cobbles, squares with public fountains,stone made churches, a new Cathedral andsingular public buildings transformed thatvillage in an special city full of beauty (Fig. 4).

Fig. 3 - drawing believed to be the original plan by Brigadier Alpoim

Fig. 4 - The city of Mariana in 1745

With the decline of gold exploitation, thephysical appearance of the city was preservedand during the nineteenth century only smallchanges occurred. In the twentieth centurysome new interventions were made but the citywas listed as a whole to be preserved. It was inthe sixties with the arrival of some ironexploiting companies, that the mostinappropriate changes took place and significantalterations in the environment and in the urban

area started to concern the official institution ofBrazil for preservation - IPHAN.This led to a need for a new methodology witha different approach because the populationgrew and threatened the preservation scheme,with changes in the old buildings and themobilization for new homes. New people livingin the historic city without knowing its culturalvalue, means a need for a better quality of theenvironment protection and in the preservationof the listed buildings (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5 - The historic Mariana as was listed in 1938 (in red)

In these circumstances, the individual listedbuilding were studied in relation to theirsurroundings and environment, in order to showhow the preservation scheme depends on theframe in which they are set, as part of anintegrated system.

A map of their location was developed (Fig. 6)and some of them were studied in a deephistorical retrospective look, with informationsuch as building type and materials, etc. Fromthese analyses a new form of boundaries wasproposed for the historic city (Fig.7).

Fig.6 - Location of listed building in the historic city.

Fig. 7 _ The new boundaries proposed to the historic city of Mariana

However, in the historic cities andsurroundings, procedures for sustainingdevelopments in legislation, depend on theagreement between IPHAN and localauthorities. These organizations have to takedecisions about details concerning the use of

land in a proper way. The aim is to improve thequality of protection, including the remaininggreen areas. A preliminary study of criteria forthe analysis of applications in Mariana is beingdeveloped, as shown in this map below (Fig. 8).

Fig. 8 - A preliminary study of criteria for the analysis of applications in Mariana

These rules are being implemented in generalterms, but were not been officially adopted byIPHAN, from city to city. The dissemination ofthese rules throughout the community, takinginto account the particularities of each historicalareas, will provide support for acts ofpreservation in all of the historical cities inBrazil. An analysis of data obtained in a surveywork shows that there is a lack of geographical

and physical information about the conservationarea. Maps were not made with accuracy andcomparisons between the existing ones, show alack of a comprehensive view of growth andchanges. Information was supplemented bydata taken from archives (like aerialphotographs) which resulted in the updating ofthe city map as shown in the followingparagraphs.

The map of the city was divided into sections(Fig. 9) so that an in-depth analysis on eachsection could carried out. It was designedfollowing the rectangular patterns in order toindicate the historical process of growth.AREA 1 is related t the area of the initialsettlement. AREA 2 refers to the occupation

which was centralized in the area of theCathedral. AREA 3 is part of the Alpoim’splan of 1745. AREA 4 is the subsequentoccupation to the South and finally AREA 5covers the part of the historic city which arenow being extensively occupied.

Fig. 9 - map of the city divided into five selected areas

In all these areas the number of buildings wereexamined in different dates in order to revealthe growth of the city and the changes whichoccurred. Many of these changes were irregularas it happened without following any criteria interms of urban planning, even so the city hadbeen considered a conservation area.It was also analyzed the number of applicationsrequired from the owners, including referencesrelated to restorations or other kind ofalteration. This number represents acomparison between the conservation processas recorded by IPHAN and the actualdevelopment throughout the city. Attempts tohave a permanent dialogue between IPHAN, thecommunity and any other institution who intend

to build something new, re-build or restorebuildings in this particular area, must bereinforced by cooperation and exchange ofinformation in order to increase awareness ofconservation and protection of the heritageThe survey of all these areas is not completeand there is lack of technical support andinformation. IPHAN needs to cope moreurgently with the problems which are partly oftheir own making and their responsibility. Thiscould be done by the application of informationtechnology in the organization of the oldarchives and the subsequent inclusion ofavailable measurements to draw a definitivemap of the city

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Fig. 10 -the transformation which occurred in the central area

The character of the historic city depends on thecriteria used for development in these areas andits surroundings whose existing spaces shouldbe preserved or properly managed, to maintainthe authenticity of the area. The next initiativewill be the updating of the city map using GIStechniques, digital equipment, GPS andsoftware of spatial analyses in order to obtaindetailed information which could facilitate

assessment and analysis about building andenvironment conditions and how to act for theirpreservation. This mapping will permit newforms of planning methodology and to a betterdefinition of criteria for protection of theconservation area. From Mariana this initiativecould be extended to other historic cities in thestate of Minas Gerais and Brazil.

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