Rabo de Peixe. Sociedade e forma urbana

Abstract

The following dissertation has as its study object the azorean parish of Rabo de Peixe. Through a research that ranged from the geographical, urbanistic, sociological and identitary discussions, we intersected the general features for a global explanation of that which is one of the most chronically impoverished areas (in all levels) of the European Union. By establishing a multidisciplinary cartography of this region, which is portrayed as a problem, unattended intersections emerge, which point the direction to new restructuring and rehabilitating actions which, finally, can fulfill coherently the clear weaknesses of previous research and intervention. Although we explored theoretical aspects, our goal was always to go beyond the simple analysis: the final chapter of this work presents a set of projects or, at least, a clear direction for future interventions -which underlines, precisely, the constant need to resist the temptation of defining total plans, blind to the experience of those who actually dwell, who live their everyday lives in this location. The area of Rabo de Peixe presents a challenge like no other in the Portuguese panorama and, as such, must gather around it all critical, sociological, architectural thinking.