Conservação do patrimônio cultural: perspectivas sobre o sítio industrial da antiga Caft, Rio Largo/AL.

Abstract

Industrial Heritage constitutes of all the elements that make the installation and operation of an industry possible. Because of deindustrialization, many industrial legacies have become obsolete and there are countless studies and attempts to restore the remnants of these structures and to reintegrate them into current use. However, this type of project presents challenges because these heritage buildings have a specific nature which is focused on productivity and function; further, the structures occupy large areas and they possess values not limited to the historical or aesthetic aspects of heritage, but also linked to meanings and symbols that qualify them. In this context, the question of how it would be possible to intervene on the industrial patrimony without forgetting its specific and complex nature arises. The subject of this study is the industrial site of the Alagoana Company of Wiring and Fabrics (CAFT), located in Rio Largo/AL. The present study aims to outline the equity variables (for example, stakeholders / values and meanings, patrimonial attributes) that can mediate a conservation policy in the former CAFT, from the point of view of contemporary conservation theory. Methodologically, the work is divided in the following procedures: 1) a bibliographical survey with an in-depth examination of questions related to industrial heritage properties and its relation to conservation theories (classic and contemporary); 2) a historical survey of the object of study; 3) field research for the spatial characterization of CAFT, through graphic and photographic resources; 4) a documentary survey for the study of how CAFT currently manages told industrial buildings; 5) a cross-referencing of the theoretical and empirical information to develop a conclusion and present the results. In conclusion, several historical heritage values were found on the old CAFT site. The amount found actually surpasses the values outlined on the table of values presented in the doctrinal document, which demonstrates the specificity of the object of study as well as the limitations of the definition in the document. A Declaration of Cultural Significance of the site is written, which guides a policy proposal aimed at preserving the values of the former CAFT. This dissertation intends to contribute to the field of study of industrial Heritage conservation and to highlight the high amount of potential actions that can be taken through it via the methodology of the contemporary theory of conservation, which has been hithertoabsent in such discussions on this of cultural heritage.