Connecting heritage urban landscapes through a Circuit of Heritage approch

Ref.: 211
Área temática: 03 Integridad visual de los paisajes urbanos históricos
Fecha de recepción: 04/11/2008

AUTORES (* Autor principal)

FARRAN, Neide * (Brasil) - Fundação do Desenvolvimento Administrativo - Fundap
BROWN, Rupert (Brasil) - Fundação do Desenvolvimento Administrativo - Fundap
CORREA, Andrea (Brasil) - Fundação do Desenvolvimento Administrativo - Fundap

ABSTRACT

São Paulo's population are enthusiastic about its history, buildings and long cultural legacy. Its heritage management up shows many of the disconnects that commonly appear in fast developing cities and there remains a significant challenge to deliver a coherent future for its historic urban landscapes and avert destructive development that accompanies the priorities of expansion. This study addresses this strong desire for reconnecting with the past and analyses disconnects using a version of the Circuit of Culture approach to reveal the many currents that can be channelled into a vibrant, participative conservation of historic urban landscapes. São Paulo is a short distance from an harmonized approach to integrity of its heritage and this study offers solutions through connections.

The analysis tracks contested spaces and contested identities in São Paulo's heritage in order to trace viable monitoring and feedback mechanisms to develop the references and currents within urban heritage environment. Using a native version of Stuart Hall's Circuit of Culture framework, it offers a schematic breakdown of the interconnections between representation, identity, production, consumption-use and regulation of heritage spaces. It is the launchpad for a directed and integrated Circuit of Heritage.

A balanced approach to monitoring and developing connections in historic urban landscapes - between public administration, public perception and infrastructure - requires continual analysis of the disconnects and opportunities to link up with actual existing resources. Clips shown on São Paulo metro trains feature protected buildings within historical bairros yet there are no signposts or information available in or near to stations. Federal, State and Municipal Preservation Organs maintain different outlooks, zoning priorities and have little or no budget or interest in education or outreach. Parts of the historic centre have strong patronage from commerce but with a priority for security, lighting and streetdwellers while adjoining areas that contribute to integrity are left outside. Neither institutional potential nor cultural current can flow over incomplete circuits.

Key findings from the Circuit of Heritage analysis demonstrate a number of apparent multipliers - where layers expertise and resources can be overlain. The use of historic buildings and spaces for accommodating cultural events and educational initiatives is a clear cross fertilization of authenticity and context. Initiatives to contextualize transport hubs in relation to the character of their bairros and embed the identities of nearby sites of historic interest within their infrastructure are multipliers arising from the analysis. Developing vocabularies and taxonomies for dispersed customs and buildings with common roots and authors will transcend their spatial limitations and these can be amplified by new possibilities of increasingly ubiquitous handheld digital maps.

This study concludes that the Circuit of Heritage approach offers great hope for a better alignment of policy, perception and culture. It demonstrates clear research paths, addresses institutional disconnects and a offers a distinct opportunity for managing historic urban landscapes.

BIBLIOGRAFÍA

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