Em busca de uma ambiência histórica: transformações na forma urbana e percepção da historicidade do sítio histórico de Natal-RN

Abstract

The initial urban nucleus of the City of Natal, classified as Urban Historic Site by IPHAN (National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage), changed little its spatial configuration during most of its history, but started to undergo more significant changes since the end of the 19th century, extending into the first half of the following century, in the context of the urban modernization process that occurred in many Brazilian cities. These modifications, however, were not able to alter the strong historicist atmosphere which is both present and inherent in this nucleus, unlike subsequent modifications, still ongoing, that seem to be increasingly interfering in the perception of the historicity of the place. Having this issue as a starting point, this thesis raises the question of how the spatial changes in the Historical Site of Natal (SHN) that took place from the second half of the 20th century onwards have affected the historicity that is still part of the local ambience, as perceived by those who know the place? The hypothesis put forward is that the ambience of the Historical Site of Natal is distancing itself from its historical quality, as its physical, social, economic and cultural features have been altered more intensively over the last decades. The thesis object matter is, therefore, the urban form transformations and the SHN historicity perception; its general objective is to understand the SHN historicity from the standpoint of those who know the place. The research follows two theoretical and methodological paths – urban morphology and environmental perception – both of them within a historical approach. It also considers the following procedures: bibliographical and photographic analysis and the analysis of documents; morphological and architectural styles analysis (with the support of an inventory); online questionnaires containing photographs and sensitive walking itineraries taken in the SHN and noted down by the researcher in a field diary. The results confirm the many transformations of the SHN urban form and their perception by those who took part in the survey, who regret and display dissatisfaction with the local government, seen as responsible for the problem. As a consequence of such transformations, the research participants opinions indicate that the local historicity has been threatened, even if they still feel involved in a historical ambience produced by minimal details visible on the buildings facades and on the monuments found in the public space which in some cases confuse and transmit the local cultural heritage improperly. The negative feelings are always presented in contrast with the positive ones and the materiality of the urban form is perceived better than the immaterial aspects. Such elements show the need for investment towards an effective Integrated Conservation policy for the cultural heritage of Natal.