Arquitetura e memória: a Rua Sales Barbosa na dinâmica do desenvolvimento urbano de Feira de Santana (1940-1980)

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes the urban transformations of Rua Sales Barbosa, in Feira de Santana (Bahia, Brazil), between 1940 and 1980, investigating how changes in the urban space impacted the area's historical and cultural assets as well as its collective memory. Its aim is to highlight the urban and architectural changes that altered the street’s physical structure, especially the Art Deco-style façades introduced as part of the area's modernization process. However, these façades did not withstand commercial demands and the intensive use of the space for advertising, resulting in the loss of its original character. The research is grounded in concepts related to heritage values, collective memory, and urban transformations, exploring the development of Feira de Santana’s urban landscape. Adopting a qualitative approach, the study employs bibliographic and documentary analysis, along with comparative methods tounderstand changes over time, using photographs and architectural drawings of Rua Sales Barbosa. As a conclusion, it highlights that urban transformations—driven by commercial speculation and the absence of a more comprehensive protection policy—led to the deterioration of architectural elements and the weakening of the collective memory associated with Rua Sales Barbosa. The dissertation underscores the importance of preservation strategies that take into account not only officially listed heritage assets but also buildings that, while not legally protected, hold significant historical and cultural value.