Verticalização e patrimônio cultural urbano: projetos arquitetônicos de intervenção vertical em Belo Horizonte, MG

Abstract

This dissertation addresses the preservation of built cultural heritage within protected urban sites in the central area of Belo Horizonte (MG, Brazil), considering the conflicts arising from the phenomenon of verticalization. Defined as vertical interventions, the insertion of high-rise buildings within contexts of protected low-rise structures and urban sites can significantly impact the local ambiance and the surrounding area of cultural assets. In Belo Horizonte, the Deliberative Council for Cultural Heritage (CDPCM-BH) is the governing body responsible for establishing preservation guidelines for listed properties and urban sites, as well as approving intervention projects in protected buildings. Thus, the CDPCM-BH plays a key role in mediating conflicts of values and competing interests within the same territory, operating at the intersection of public, private, heritage preservation, and real estate market interests. This dissertation aims to understand how the Council positions itself regarding verticalization in protected urban sites by analyzing the approval processes of vertical intervention projects within the area delimited by Avenida do Contorno. Examining this subject within the historical trajectory of the Council's actions allows for an understanding of how its perspective on verticalization in Belo Horizonte has evolved. Consequently, we identify the set of values that inform the Council’s decisions to approve or reject vertical intervention projects in listed buildings.