Casario da rua padre Rolim: usos, transformações e ressignificações urbanas na cidade de Cajazeiras-PB.

Abstract

This research, conducted in the Historic Center of the city of Cajazeiras-PB, analyzes and investigates the houses concentrated specifically on Padre Rolim Street, between Joaquim Bezerra Alley and Joaquim Costa Alley. It initially offers an understanding of the formation and composition of the concepts of urban fabric and urbanization, with a particular focus on the city of Cajazeiras and how these houses contribute to shaping and interpreting the studied context. The central issue addressed is the uses, transformations, and reinterpretations of these houses, through a geographical and historical approach, aiming to understand how these properties reflect the city’s social, economic, and cultural dynamics. Furthermore, the work presents, throughout the text, references from the field of architecture, understanding the emergence and influences of these structures, continuing with discussions on heritage designation processes and addressing the city and its architectural heritage. This forms a clear line of reasoning to comprehend the structural and functional changes over time, emphasizing their impacts on modernization and on urban policies directed at the area. In addition, the study discusses the appreciation and preservation of architectural heritage in the face of new societal demands, and how the Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage of the State of Paraíba (IPHAEP) engages with these processes. The methodology includes a literature review grounded in urban geography, considering the studies on society and space proposed by authors Nikos Salingaros and Milton Santos. Documentary analysis and field research — including interviews with property owners, the city’s Secretary of Infrastructure Planning, the local community, and photographic records — were also essential in shaping this study. The expected results involve promoting the historical memories of Cajazeiras’ urban past, which contribute to preserving the city's historical heritage. These efforts are crucial to keeping the local history alive, allowing future generations to understand and appreciate the evolution of the community.