Page 1 - 2002 - Bom ano - Kung Hei Fat Choi - Happy Year
Page 2 - ATeliers-ARchiTecture    

Page 3 - Macau´s architecture
Page 4 - Portugal
Page 5 - CISA Andrea Palladio . 5.1 Scarpa . 5.2 Terragni
Page 6 - Etc. . 6.1 Drawing

. Ha Ma Temple. Barra.

. Travessa do Mata Tigre.

. Rua do Padre António, near Lilau Sq.

Taipa Island

. Old Market.

. Temple of Tin Hau.

. Civic Institute/Urban Council.

. Stone, and Art Deco Pagoda.

Coloane Island

. Restaurant

. Temple of Tam Kung.

. Ha Ma Temple. Barra. Macau
Macau Plan 144
18 Jun 1995

1. Restaurant. Praça Presidente António Ramalho Eanes. Colone Village.
Macau Plan 448
18 Jan 1985

3. Old Market. Rua Correia da Silva. Taipa Village.
Macau Plan 289
6 Dec 1998

4. Temple of Tin Hau. Rua Correia da Silva. Taipa Village.
Macau Plan 309
20 Apr 1997

5. Civic Institute/Urban Council. Rua Correia da Silva. Taipa Village. Macau Plan 309
1984

7. Travessa do Mata Tigre. Macau.
Macau Plan 125
29 Sep 1996

Text for the News Letter of AAM-Architects Association of Macau - February 2001

<Ruas Centrais>Central Streets in Coloane, Taipa and Macau.

Early this year China-Macau and UNESCO put forward the proposal for Macau to obtain the privilege of World publicity and the obligations of taking care of itself.

This proposal is substantiated on <Rua Central> Central Str., built on the second and more definitive phase of the Portuguese settlement in Macau. (The first Portuguese settlement was located at <Rua Ribeira do Patane> - Patane River Str., related with the need to supply sailing boats with fresh water.)

The urban concept of <Rua Central> exists in several cultures. For example in Manhattan Island, New York City, it is named Broad Way, using the top edge of the mountains that form the island, existing since it was a communitarian land of American Indians.

The urban concept of <Rua Central> exists in most cities of Portugal, and its former colonies.

In Macau its urban, political, religious, and social functions, are materialised when it: connects the North and South fortresses, <Monte> and <Barra>; Passes by several catholic Churches, <Agostinho> near <Rua Ribeira do Patane>, <Paulo>, <Domingues>, <António>, <José>, <Lourenço>, <Penha>; Welcomes us with the Plazas of <Leal Senado>, <Clube de Macau>, <Lilau>, Ha Ma Temple; Gives place to the Chinese community urban area, located on the West slope of its hills, facing Mainland, around the pre-existing Temples related with China sea trade; Gives place to the European and American communities, located on the East slope of its hills, facing deeper waters and the approaching sailing and steam boats.

In Coloane Island's Village exists also a <Rua Central>: it starts on Largo do Presidente António Ramalho Eanes, where still exists an institutional building, and where in another house existed an excellent restaurant (1); Passes by <Francisco Xavier> Church with its Plaza; Glimpses the Temple of Kun Iam with a beautiful Moon window, facing the water of the Pearl River; And bring us to the Plaza of the Temple of Tam Kung (2).

Taipa Island's Village the <Rua Central> Rua Correia da Silva, passes by: the Temple of Sam Po; The boundary walls, the trees, an the buildings of the old fire cracker factories; At old times we could use the Market (3), now a garage of the Civic Institute/Urban Council, one of the most interesting old community buildings of all Macau - the boundary walls of its large site used to be permeable to view and passage, it was a lively place, with its roof shelter that mixes traditional Chinese wood and tiles construction, with European neo Classical brick plastered columns (the technical process used by Palladio, in Italy, XVI century, on some of his buildings while reinventing and evolving qualities of Roman architecture).

Exists an interesting design developed by the Civic Institute/Urban Council for a new Theatre to replace this market. This new proposal could be built instead on one of the several empty new land reclamations that surround this Village, allowing the renew of this old Market into an open air covered theatre, a communal plaza, or any other use that could preserve its human density and walking environment.

In case of an eventual demolition the old Market could be rebuilt, a <mal menor> lesser evil, maybe located also on one of the several empty new land reclamations that surround the Village.

On the way of Taipa´s <Rua Central>: we pass by the plaza facing both the Temple of Tin Hau (4) and the head quarters of the Civic Institute/Urban Council (5) (recreating the mix / split relationship in between the Chinese and European communities that exists also on <Rua Central > of Macau); Arriving to an old engraved gigantic stone (6), that anchors a welcoming Art Deco Pagoda, located where previously existed a harbour.

In Macau´s <Rua Central> besides the more publicized buildings, exist some old Chinese housing (7), Travessa do Mata Tigre, and an almost contemporary Art Deco housing (8), Rua do Padre António, which deserve to be renewed. They belong to the memories of this city area.

The Chinese housing could be bought by a public or private service and transformed into a school, kinder garden or an elderly center, any use with dynamic social use.

The Art Deco housing eventually will be redeveloped by entrepreneurs, following rules of architecture issued by the government, preserving the existing elevations, and renew the almost public gardens located facing the walk way.

It is possible to renew and incorporate contemporary functions into old buildings from different times and styles, at the same time to persevere on building sensitive quality contemporary architecture / future heritage. In order that there is not the necessity to recreate fake "old" inside traditional urban areas.

Those are the lessons from Italy and France, countries with more tourism related with architecture, among the countries with larger quantity of architecture classified by UNESCO.

3 February 2002