Polana, Caniço A: Um bairro em movimento, uma comunidade em evolução, uma perspectiva sobre a cidade de Maputo

Abstract

The present dissertation "Polana Caniço A: a block in movement, an evolving community. A perspective on the city of Maputo "has analysed Polana Caniço, A suburban neighborhood, located in peripheral border of Maputo, as a result of the excessive expansion of the city. The aim of this study is to identify, analyze and dissect the large urbanistic and architectural problems in the neighborhood indicating possible paths to mitigate and, contribute to improve the quality of life of its inhabitants. Since the neighborhood is not an isolated object without context or environment, it is necessary to present the constraints of the country and the city where it's inserted in order to better understand its history, evolution and current features. Otherwise it would not be possible to understand the origin of the neighborhood and the characteristics that at one time shares and distinguishes it from other neighborhoods in Maputo. Thus, at first we discuss the social-historical, architectural and urbanistic framework of Maputo in the Mozambican context, underlyning its main stages of development and transformation, since its origins, colonial structures and emancipation turning to the capital of a free country. On a second moment, we approach the concept of city and urban planning in order to better understand the themes of informality and the duality that can be found in the city today, with the introduction of these characteristics in Maputo and the understanding of the city reaction to this. Based on the duality and informality present in the city, comes the last step of the dissertation, which presents the existing administrative urban division in the city - Urban, Suburban and Periurban areas - and locating the block in tis zone. This is the reason for the development of the chapter about Polana Caniço A, which characterizes it in social, historical, urbanistic and architectural terms. Through the in-depth study of the block is understandable the constant movement and the increasing evolution of their community, revealing spatial and infrastructural problems of this and giving rise to the creation of new spaces and the regeneration of others that already exists in order to improve their problems and enhance its qualities and peculiarities that distinguish it from all other suburban neighborhoods of Maputo.