Cabo Verde, 10 graozinho di terra: Memória, Identidade e Estratégias da casa em Ribeira Brava

Abstract

Architecture in its multidisciplinary approach can reach the deepest aspects of a life cycle. This life cycle - of what is alive and material - is latent to the fourth dimension of space, which is time. The urban and architectural identities of places are intrinsic to the time factor. Over time the form changes and the relationship among these aspects oscillates between "love and hate", which are intimately close or infinitely distant. The time factor may or may not result in the attribution of a certain value to the architectural artifact. This artifact must maintain an intimate relationship with its context, as one cannot survive without the other. It is necessary to resort to the individual and collective memory of the place, the artifact and what gives them life - the human being. Memory is embedded in culture, which also determines values for each element, therefore, it is necessary to observe, feel, listen, draw the essence of each place and understand its unique characteristics and the ones drawn in memory from a general perspective in which architecture forms a part. The colonial houses on the island of São Nicolau and the other islands of Cape Verde, that still resist the transformations imposed by the passage of time, are part of a remarkable period of these ten little pieces of land. The conservation, innovation, transformation and reuse of these buildings cannot be done in isolation. The dialogue with its context needs to be constant, otherwise we risk losing what has been given to us by time, for instance, spaces that keep memory, stories, culture, which allowed and still allow the construction of the essence of Cape Verdeans. That being is built inside and outside these spaces that we call home, which have undergone mutations with the natural cycle of events, but continue to be, in the same way, a shelter. Parallel to time is the concept of evolution. Embracing this concept does not mean allowing the abrupt invasion that it may impose. Evolution allows a metamorphosis that should maintain "the basic elements of continuity that are referenced in an inalienable identity of places". The course of this dissertation allowed to raise characteristics about the origin of the colonial house in the City-Village of Ribeira Brava on the island of São Nicolau in its deepest sense, involving history, urban structure, the geographical, social, economic and cultural context. The patrimonialization of these elements would recognize the "testimony of the life of a people with a vital museological documentary character and not just a set of materials of aesthetic and architectural value". This would be the starting point for overcoming some of the various obstacles encountered regarding its transformation. In this way, we must build in what is built with the hope of the future and the needs of the present. Ribeira Brava urgently needs the parties involved in the development of the city- village- to communicate with each other in order to establish an action plan. It is necessary to distinguish between evolution and decharacterization. Technological advances have allowed for better housing and public health conditions, but they have also brought new constructive elements that overlap with traditional construction, modifying shapes and providing meaningless spaces. It is clear that the organization of space during the colonial period does not match some habits and customs today, however, "it is not necessary to destroy to transform"11. Based on this ideology, the importance of these elements is highlighted so that the essence that is reported so much by the inhabitants, "lovers of their land", is not lost. Despite this, the village of Ribeira Brava have already been transformed and for that, suffered immense losses on which what was experienced and felt remains through what is told. From this point of view, all that remains is to sing, "Sodade, sodade, dess nha terra Saninklau!"