Patrimônio e valor histórico: uma análise das políticas de salvaguarda e dos riscos contemporâneos na conservação do Centro Histórico de São Luís do Maranhão

Abstract

The Historic Center of São Luís, state of Maranhão (Brazil) constitutes one of the most significant collections of Portuguese colonial architecture outside of Europe; marked by townhouses, mansions, and churches that form an urban landscape of inestimable cultural value. Designated a national heritage site by IPHAN in 1974 and elevated to the status of a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997, the historic center has undergone different phases of urban requalification since the beginning of the 20th century, almost always driven by public policies aimed at the conservation of built heritage and cycles of modern society. The objective of this research is to evaluate the effects of depredation and transformations of the colonial architectural core of the Historic Center of São Luís, in contrast to centuries-old urban conservation, modernity, and the proposals of safeguarding and requalification policies for the federally protected area. Actions related to the Preservation and Revitalization Program of the Historic Center of São Luís, the Dossier, and the title of World Heritage Site are especially considered. This research begins with a critical reading of the interventions proposed by the state at the three levels of political-administrative organization of the territory: Federal, State, and Municipal; represented by autonomous agencies, secretariats, superintendencies, and other departments, such as IPHAN (National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage) and FUMP (Municipal Foundation for the Protection of Historical, Artistic, and Cultural Heritage); evaluating their contributions and contradictions in relation to urban dynamics and the social use of properties – including the permanence of resident communities and the daily flows of the area. It was found that, although these policies have promoted important physical restoration actions, such as the recovery of facades, squares, and public facilities, many of them disregard functional social aspects of territorial maintenance. This results in empty spaces, displacements, and underutilization of restored properties, translated here as risks to conservation. The title of World Heritage Site, although it has brought international recognition, has not in itself guaranteed the sustainability of preservation actions, which continue to fragment the area and the surroundings of the Historic Center. Analyzing the risks to the historical center, such as real estate pressure, architectural degradation, social invisibility, and a lack of coordination between levels of government, reveals urgent needs for new perspectives on heritage. Thus, it is observed that public policies are being adopted that do not integrate with or value heritage, but rather treat it as an object of aesthetic preservation, leaving spaces devoid of experiences, memories, and cultural identities. Prioritizing sustainable uses, such as student housing, the creative economy, and responsible tourism, fostering the protagonism of the local population and ensuring the vitality of the Historical Center as a constantly evolving cultural territory, and thus guiding these heritage safeguarding policies, are the responses to such risks.