Enigmas as strategy of strengthening bonds with the urban landscape. The case study of the monastery of St. Mary Magdalene

Ref.: 139
Key theme: 02 Functional integrity of historic urban landscapes
Date of reception: 16/11/2008

AUTHORS (*Main author)

DA SILVA, Maria Angélica * (Brazil) - Federal University of Alagoas
AZEVEDO, Anna Victória (Brazil) - Federal University of Alagoas
OLIVEIRA, Roseline (Brazil) - Federal University of Alagoas
MAGALHÃES, Ana Cláudia (Brazil) - Federal University of Alagoas

ABSTRACT

The 17th century Franciscan monastery of St. Mary Magdalene has an outstanding value within the context of Brazilian architecture. It is part of the historical urban landscape of the city of Marechal Deodoro and both, monastery and city, are listed as national patrimonies.

From the very beginning, Franciscans were included in the history of Brazil. Acting as the main agent in the construction of its religious and civic landscape, the order was fundamental to making Brazil what it is today. Responsible for conversion to Christianity, Franciscan missions spread all over the lands, from the Amazon forest to the deep south of the continent. The monastery of St. Mary Magdalene was erected in that context. In spite of constraints of time, its buildings are nowadays in a reasonable state of conservation but under threat as it is in the fringe of an important urban centre of touristic destination. Although it has been recently restored there still lies an important question: its distance to the population. As it is not fully used as a monastery anymore, it was transformed into a museum, losing its original links with community.

It is important to consider that activity qualifies a space. Only by being re-integrated into the life of people can heritage act as a cultural tool. How could this happen in the case of that monastery? Can it be considered a historical urban landscape (HUL) in itself?

The aim of this paper is to contribute to making the recently renewed monastery a place close to the contemporary demands by using the knowledge accumulated during the historical and archaeological research as well as the registers taken from the community. In other words, its own history. It is to present the monument not any longer as a precious shell that houses a museum, but a place significant to the Brazilian history and to the citizens of Marechal Deodoro.

Memory and oblivion not only add their layers one over the other, but overlap, integrate, surpass them, in an orchestration of several different movements. The process of restoration cannot be considered unnecessary as the recovering the building ended up, but should be used as a tool to stimulate the visitor and the citizen to participate in the difficult and attractive mission of understanding the life of a monument that, in the very end, is the memory of community.

A building can be a box of enigmas. Its process of deciphering can be continuous and can add value to the monument. The enigma can be put in evidence by using a variation of new technologies as digital media, cenography, virtual reality and discreet architectonical interventions. Thus, fragments of contemporary architecture would be inscribed on the historical urban landscape. Nurtured by its own history, it will turn into a lively space, open to the demands that time never stops to present.

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