CULTURAL HERITAGE OF PORTO ALEGRE AND THE 2024 FLOOD

Rosilene Martins Possamai; Luiz Merino de Freitas Xavier

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Paper Title

CULTURAL HERITAGE OF PORTO ALEGRE AND THE 2024 FLOOD

Authors

Rosilene Martins Possamai
Luiz Merino de Freitas Xavier

Modality

Abstract

Subject area

5. Disaster and Conflict Resilient Heritage - Cultural heritage is increasingly vulnerable to disasters and conflicts and subject to rapid destruction, as evidenced by the recent fires, floods, earthquakes and escalating armed conflicts in different parts of the world. At the General Assembly 2023 in Sydney, ICOMOS Advisory Committee approved the theme of “Disaster and Conflict Resilient Heritage - Preparedness, Response and Recovery” as the theme for the Triennial Scientific Plan 2024-2027. In keeping with the spirit of open, innovative, constructive intergenerational dialogue, and the strategic focus, this sub-theme will address the suitability of the Venice Charter with the theme of disaster and conflict-resilient heritage, emphasizing its broader implications for heritage discourse, development models, and resilience strategies.

Publishing Date

11/04/2025

Country of Publishing

Brazil | Brasil

Language of Publishing

Inglês

Paper Page

https://www.even3.com.br/anais/icomos-scientific-symposium-2024-439820/869744-cultural-heritage-of-porto-alegre-and-the-2024-flood

ISBN

978-65-272-1284-3

Keywords

Flood; Porto Alegre; Cultural heritage; 2024

Summary

In May 2024, the state of Rio Grande do Sul and its capital Porto Alegre experienced the worst climate catastrophe ever seen in Brazil. Heavy rains increased the level of the rivers, which make up the largest hydrographic basin in the country, causing a flood that affected 476 municipalities. The calamity collapsed roads, bridges, flooded hundreds of homes, displaced thousands of people, claimed lives and property. The flood affected 2,392,686 people, displaced 575,171, dislodged 35,103, injured 806, killed 172. 44 people are missing, 77,874 people and 12,543 animals were rescued. In Porto Alegre, 21 neighborhoods flooded due to the failure of the flood containment system, which had not received adequate maintenance. Important cultural heritage sites in the Historic Center, including part of the site listed by IPHAN, Praça da Alfândega and museums in its surroundings were flooded. The Public Market, the Municipal Palace, the House of Culture and the Usina do Gasômetro, as well as squares and streets, also flooded, compromising structures, facilities and collections. Dozens of inventoried and listed buildings have suffered the same. Two cases can be compared to illustrate the resilience of the built heritage next to the Lake: the warehouses at the port pier, built in a landed area and the headquarters of Fazenda do Arado, built in a non-landed area. The warehouses on the pier in front of Lake Guaíba are beyond the wall that should protect the city and suffer flooding frequently. A project to revitalize the warehouses, dated 2023, proposed the demolition of the wall and a new protection system on the edge of the pier, partially obstructing its facades and compromising the visualization of these assets in the landscape. With the climate catastrophe in May, technical experts consolidate the importance of the presence of the wall and the challenge becomes increasingly greater to protect the pier and its warehouses. In other words, how to protect warehouses from flooding, without confining them and without obstructing the landscape? Another case shows that natural heritage can be more resilient to climatic events such as floods. This is the case of the area of the old Fazenda do Arado, formed by a rich conjunction of natural elements (hill, peninsula, coves, fields, native forests, lake) and cultural (main house, marina, stud farm, milk tambo, rice silos and archaeological site). In 2022, owners, government and the Chamber changed the legislation to allow the construction of a condominium by autonomous units. A recent court ruling annulled the laws that allowed the approval of the condominium and the destruction of the original site of the old farm. With the flood in May, the struggle of locals and indigenous community for its preservation seems to have come to an end. The site resisted the flood in an exemplary way, functioning as a natural water buffer in its plains of fields, where rice was once planted. While cultural heritage is penalized when disrespect for nature is present, in preserved natural areas, paths for cultural and environmental preservation are outlined for the future.

Title of the Event: ICOMOS SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUM 2024
City of the Event: Ouro Preto
Title of the Proceedings of the event: ICOMOS 2024 Scientific Symposium Proceedings
Name of the Publisher: Even3
Means of Dissemination: Meio Digital

How to cite

POSSAMAI, Rosilene Martins; XAVIER, Luiz Merino de Freitas. CULTURAL HERITAGE OF PORTO ALEGRE AND THE 2024 FLOOD.. In: ICOMOS 2024 Scientific Symposium Proceedings. Anais...Ouro Preto(MG) Convention Center / UFOP/ UFMG Campus, 2024. Available in: https//www.even3.com.br/anais/icomos-scientific-symposium-2024-439820/869744-CULTURAL-HERITAGE-OF-PORTO-ALEGRE-AND-THE-2024-FLOOD. Access in: 28/10/2025