A essência do lugar em Santa Tereza de Olinda

um estudo de lugares urbanos à luz de Norberg-Schulz

Abstract

With the crisis of the Modern Movement Architecture has been experiencing considerable changes in its theory, reflecting in the way cities are planned. Natural and built environmental issues have been increasing in importance, leading to a paradigm shift in the way Architecture is now created. The space in a city’s architecture passes through a process of re-signification: the places have been recognized for its specificities and for contributing to the formation of a web of relations between them, harmonizing the urban tissue. In the meanwhile, Brazilian cities undergo a fast-changing process in its urban structures, causing a loss of reference, which can harm the maintenance of cultural places. Taking this on account the ongoing research studies a place called Santa Tereza, in order to reveal its environmental qualities and its peculiarities (considering environmental qualities as the attributes that individualize the urban space in a city context). To achieve this goal, it was applied the place theory developed by the architect Christian Norberg-Schulz, based on phenomenology, with the intention of finding the identity of the place ¯called the genius loci. This research seeks to contribute to the discussions about the possibilities of offering design guidelines based on the essence of the place, in search of producing spaces committed to the way one lives.