O resgate da centralidade da Mina Grande em Nova Lima: história, memória e desenvolvimento

Abstract

The objective of this dissertation is the reflection about the process of destination of Morro Velho Mining Companys Mina Grande area in Nova Lima, discussing its relevance to downtowns urban development and to the population, which carries the memory of the gold mining. From the mining history and Mina Grandes area centrality, which was a site of multiple relations among population, company and the city, it searches a local identity associated with its material and immaterial patrimony. Several projects have been conceived by the company and by public institutions in these years where the mine is closed, exposing expectations for the future of this site, which has several potentialities: economic, environmental, historical and cultural. Power relations are established among several actors, which include the patrimonial organisms that define conditions and reinforce the social characteristic of the area, in face of the economic pressure of an international capital company that owns it. Thinking of a path that allows the company to make profits, the city to grow, the heritage to be preserved and the population to enjoy a significant area, is a challenge that depends on a strong public sphere capable of mediating conflictive relations. This work utilized a qualitative approach to their discussions, conducting an oral history research to include discourses that replicate what remains alive from gold mining. The orality as a method was possible from the interdisciplinarity of Constructed Environment and Sustainable Heritage Master, which allowed to seek the understanding of the plurality of Mina Grandes area related discourses