Popular architecture in the Revista do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional

Abstract

This paper historicizes how popular architecture was presented in Iphan’s editorial line, specifically in Revista do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional between the 1930s and 2010. Based on a current understanding of popular architecture, the study defined a typological scope to analyze the articles published in the Revista do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional that discussed indigenous architecture, the architecture of historical cycles, the “mocambos,” the “terreiros,” “quilombos,” popular immigrant architecture, and riverside dwellings. To problematize the issue, the following questions were raised: From which disciplinary fields has popular architecture been interpreted? From established canons or from its own systems? From its material or immaterial dimension? What values were identified in it? Were the articles descriptive or analytical? What did they propose? What dialogue do they establish with the regulations, ideas, agents of the studied context? Hence, to study popular architecture in the Revista do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional is also to outline a narrative about Iphan’s history and its relation to the history of architecture in Brazil.