The term ＂forgotten city＂ was mentioned by researchers to denominate some colonial Brazilian settlements and cities which seem to have the same characteristics that demonstrate they were hidden along the years and t...The term ＂forgotten city＂ was mentioned by researchers to denominate some colonial Brazilian settlements and cities which seem to have the same characteristics that demonstrate they were hidden along the years and that have the same atmosphere as they used to in their past life, i.e., they have the same traditional type of urban configuration produced at the origin of the city. This paper brings into discussion this character of this city, using as an example the city of Laranjeiras, one of the oldest cities of the State of Sergipe, which had a great and rich trade of sugar, besides significant cultural and political activities, being known as ＂Brazilian Athens＂ in the 19th century. Then, Laranjeiras decayed and stopped growing along the 20th century. However, it has had a good perspective to develop again with insertion of new different activities recently. The initial Portuguese planning to villages in Brazil followed specific rules and had a systematic assistance, what discards the myth that many Brazilian cities were born and grown up as a spontaneous form without planning. Studying some factors deeply, as spatial configuration, settlement localization and urban grid, it can be possible to point some recognizable elements which demonstrate that some cities were built to be forgotten. The methodology used for the analysis of Laranjeiras presents many historic, economic and cultural aspects related to the spatial-syntactic studies （Space Syntax Theory）, bringing to light some interesting thoughts about urban form and social life.展开更多
文摘The term ＂forgotten city＂ was mentioned by researchers to denominate some colonial Brazilian settlements and cities which seem to have the same characteristics that demonstrate they were hidden along the years and that have the same atmosphere as they used to in their past life, i.e., they have the same traditional type of urban configuration produced at the origin of the city. This paper brings into discussion this character of this city, using as an example the city of Laranjeiras, one of the oldest cities of the State of Sergipe, which had a great and rich trade of sugar, besides significant cultural and political activities, being known as ＂Brazilian Athens＂ in the 19th century. Then, Laranjeiras decayed and stopped growing along the 20th century. However, it has had a good perspective to develop again with insertion of new different activities recently. The initial Portuguese planning to villages in Brazil followed specific rules and had a systematic assistance, what discards the myth that many Brazilian cities were born and grown up as a spontaneous form without planning. Studying some factors deeply, as spatial configuration, settlement localization and urban grid, it can be possible to point some recognizable elements which demonstrate that some cities were built to be forgotten. The methodology used for the analysis of Laranjeiras presents many historic, economic and cultural aspects related to the spatial-syntactic studies （Space Syntax Theory）, bringing to light some interesting thoughts about urban form and social life.
