For the Preservation of Marks of Distress

Abstract

The current article addresses the topic ‘interventions in architectural heritage damaged by disasters caused by human action’. We have observed, in recent cases, the hegemonic thought towards significant appreciation of these constructions’ aesthetic-material aspects, which resulted in the reconstruction of buildings to a state prior to the incidents they were affected by and enabled removing the marks left by these events. Our aim is to re-address this conservation mode from a counter-hegemonic perspective, i.e., to advocate for an interventional approach capable of preserving these marks. Therefore, the herein adopted methodology focused on investigating two recent cases of intervention in buildings damaged by calamities – namely: the Portuguese Language Museum, in São Paulo City, Southeastern Brazil; and Notre-Dame Cathedral, in Paris, France – and on a systematic and transdisciplinary literature review on the concept of memory. Based on the current study, we have concluded that signs of disasters are marks of distress capable of reviving the memory of distress caused by misfortunes. Without them, we lose the source of remembrance about what happened. Absence of memory results in forgetfulness, which, in its turn, leads to the likelihood of repeating the forgotten fact. Therefore, we see marks embedded in architectural heritage as a way for us not to forget these misfortunes and, consequently, to find the means to prevent them from happening again. Therefore, we advocate that interventions of this nature preserve these marks.