À procura da identidade. Um olhar sobre a Arquitectura Timorense

Abstract

Even though East Timor has suffered several invasions over the years, its inhabitants have managed to preserve their cultural inheritance. This preservation was motivated by their belief that cultural heritage would allow them to keep a direct link with their ancestors and with the creator of the world, Maromak (God). As such, this thesis aims to present, spread, interpret and discuss the future of the culture of East Timor. For this, it employs interviews, conversations, testimonies, books, articles, photos, videos and Google searches. In this work, two case studies of uma (habitation) are presented, in the region of Manatuto e Same, which focus on the study of quotidian life and the way it adapts to the reality of the site. These examples demonstrate the particular way in which the traditional East Timorese house is drawn and built. One of the characteristics that better illustrate this point is the repetition of some rooms, such as the kitchen and the bathroom, both in the inside and outside of the house. These rooms, in spite of being duplicated and independent, do not replace each other, but rather complement each other. One of the most interesting characteristics of these constructions is their structure. It is built solely from wooden elements, and no metallic pieces are present. The constructive methods used have some very particular characteristics, such as the use of resources present in the area, the method of gathering, the resistance of the construction and the architectonic harmony of the final work. In this sense, this research aims to show the commitment the Timorese people have with their culture, encouraging the transmission of knowledge (about method and materials of construction among themselves), being also a way of transmitting this knowledge to future generations. This thesis also intends to analyze the current challenges of everyday housing experience and the future aspirations of families, in order to contribute to debate possible paths for the preservation and adaptation of the traditional Timorese house. In conclusion, it is necessary to rethink and redraw the Timorese house, balancing the preservation of traditional characteristics with the need to respond to the current needs of those who inhabit it and with the preservation of the environment.