As an attempt to stimulate the birth of a new urban identity in Patos de Minas I will propose an architectonic interventions. The intervention will be a cultural ensemble and the program will be mostly cultural. As I have to choose the location of the architectonic intervention, the question rises: where to locate it? And which parameters are going to define the location?
Since the early ages the most important functions of a city are gathered around a central plaza or avenue. The same with Patos de Minas. The avenida Getúlio Vargas was created in the 1930’s, starting at the main church and ending at the Patos Tênis Clube (a society), flanked on either side by other functions like the city hall, forum, city theater (sort of) and aristocrat housing. Symbolically it is still the most important avenue in the city. However, commercially and spatially the rua Major Gote has become far more important. It is the main axis through the city, with the most important shops and businesses facing this street. It is the economical heart. The analysis I made with the Kevin Lynch method confirms the rua Major Gote as most important axis, since all important functions are located at very close by this very street.
Economically and commercially speaking, Patos de Minas has a strong hierarchy and clarity in it’s cityscape. But culturally? The few cultural functions established in the city are as hided, put away, ashamed of their embarrassing look. In my opinion they don’t get the attention they deserve. And to stimulate and upgrade cultural life in the city there is an urge for a new cultural center, to gather many cultural functions and create a vivid anchor point. A beacon of the new city image.
With this in mind I started looking for a location within walking distance from the commercial center. Since most inhabitants wander through the city center by foot or bicycle, it is extremely important to create the possibility of incorporating the cultural center within their regular pattern. Consequence is that the the center will have to provide specific program like a musical school and a city theater, as well as general program in a special setting like some bars, restaurants, a library and maybe some shops, all gathered in a park-like setting. An environment to comfortably relax from shopping, work or school, to take a walk around, see an interesting exhibition, or go to music class.
Patos de Minas has a slightly hilly landscape, with inclined slopes where little streams and rivers cut through the landscape. Thus several hilltops are created which provide a beautiful view over the city. Realizing the intervention on such a hilltop would provide a spectacular view from the center and a great visibility from a large part of the city. From the perspective of archipuncture (interventions on strategically important places to stimulate the creation of a different city image) a good choice for an intervention which means to influence the city image and functions as a catalyst for further development.
Patos is an emerging city in development. It also has no lack of space yet. The process of verticalization has only just started in some areas of the city. And since distances within the city are not to big yet, people live were it suits best to them. Therefore, blank spots of unused terrain are to be found all over the city. This takes away the necessity to tear an existing building down in order to create space for a new one, which is often the case in the Netherlands. Still many suitable terrains are available for development.
The location I choose responds to all the demands mentioned above. It lies in the armpit of an avenue which is gaining importance rapidly, within walking distance from the commercial axis, on top of a hill with a 27o degree free viewing angle. The terrain is currently unused, only some houses are constructed at the border. My hands are starting to itch to start designing…
