Um Estudo do Fachadismo no Contexto da Preservação do Património Arquitectónico

Abstract

The present research directs itself, in its general and in a more specific way to a reflection on themes relating to building facades (English Façadism), while being a relevant reference in architecture, particularly in the context of heritage preservation, as well as, in terms of intervention and restoration. The practice of facadism, preservation considered and recognized by many scholars as highly problematic and controversial, has been honoured as it is ,with consideration and evaluation, from different points of view, even in disagreement. Accordingly, and considering them as worthy of legitimacy, they also served us for a more general and comprehensive approach in order to avoid an analysis that could be guided by criteria of mere opinion, to the detriment of its credibility. In this context, and being the priority focus of our analysis, we evaluated the issue of maintenance of facades as a relevant factor or not, in the context of preserving the architectural heritage. We were motivated to such a bet, although the fact has been disputed, some years ago, the facadism has been the main goal of architectural intervention and evolution, valuing the traditional building techniques and the morphology of buildings and urban complexes. This way, and closely defining the subject under investigation, we contextualized our research under the light of urban problems regeneration and heritage conservation, not forgetting the due and adjusted level of attention and reasoning when this theme is debated over what should be and how it should be defended.