Memórias de praças do bairro da Ponta Grossa – Maceió/AL: o discurso populista transformado em arquitetura na “Cidade Sorriso” do prefeito Sandoval Cajú (1961-1964)

Abstract

The ensuing dissertation seeks to produce analysis about the impacts and connections developed between the residents of Ponta Grossa district, located in Maceió, and the modern embellished transformation that took place in the area in the beginning of the 1960’s through the urban renovation process implemented by mayor Sandoval Cajú who introduced squares and public equipments in the area during his governance (from 1960 to 1964), in that way redefining the morphological characteristics of the area and establishing new meanings and na aesthetic shape for the region. The politician chose this place as his priority. It was he who highlighted during his campaign that he will transform the city into a “Cidade Sorriso” – a City of Smiles-, slogan used during his time as mayor and that was also imprinted around the newly built areas and equipments in the shape of the letter “S” which, wisely correlated to his own initial, would be seen as a sign of modernization found on benches and flowerbeds located in squares, water fountains, bus stops and more. The following discussions aim to examine these places, considering the architectural expressions as representative of the yearnings for modernization from the inhabitants of Ponta Grossa at that time since they were the occupants of the area on a daily basis and represented a common wish connecting the places to the memories from these unnamed individuals taking into consideration their diversity as a collective expression. This is considered an importante discussion in this moment in time due to the building of a “feeling of modernity” from one of the districts of Maceió and the symbologic expression of the idea of “Popular Modernism” conception with the purpose of verifying the dynamics of the confrontation processes that occurred between squares, the district itself and its residentes, uncovering the probable motives that relegated them to silence since today very little of that collection, both in particular and representative language, remains.