Dossiê de ausência: o patrimônio arquitetônico em condição de vacância na região central de Belo Horizonte

Abstract

Researches points to the predominance of almost 60% of historic or listed buildings in the set of buildings in disuse in the central region of Belo Horizonte. Hostages of long inventory processes or lack of property documentation, for example, some of these properties have remained in disuse for more than 20 years. Given this and from the understanding of obsolescence as something historically built in the field of architecture, the main point to be discussed in this research is why such heritage makes up the majority of vacant properties in downtown Belo Horizonte, remaining obsoletes, without its function be fulfilled and a new use defined. To think about the abandoned heritage in the big cities is to deal with the controversy of preservation, often alien to the contemporary city and its needs. The understanding of the spatial form, the choices about permanence, use, demolition, preservation and abandonment - when they are associated with the production of space - are understood here as reflections of social dynamics and values historically constructed and assigned to these spaces. For methodological purposes, this study will be restricted to the Hipercentro region of the capital, where a mapping of historic properties in vacant conditions in the region will be made. A vertical and in-depth analysis based on the cartographic method will also serve as a study and discussion about the economic, political and ideological orientations developed since the emergence of the first notions about heritage in Brazil and which, having reflections nowadays, support the urban planning and heritage management. Finally, the notion of heritage and disuse - approached through a historical, social and spatial perspective - will be addressed in view of the possibilities of transformation based on the politicization of society itself and the local action.