MACAU
That sleepy haven of the East, Macau, has been awakened in recent years by an upsurging construction boom. A minor town planning crisis has followed in its wake and in an attempt to cope with the problem the local administration, in October 1962, called in the assistance of five emminent architects from Portugal. These five, while working in their own rights on individual projects, have joined together to form the nucleus of a town planning divison. As a preliminary to presenting exam- ples of their work in the coming issues of Far East Architect and Builder, this feature traces a brief history of Macau and looks at the existing situation of its architecture and planning.
THE PAST
N the 16th century the Portuguese, after their establishment in several parts of the Orient Goa, Ceylon, Malacca
attempted to
get in contact with China. The first Portuguese who landed on the China coast was Jorge Alvares, in 1513, and shortly after started the trade with China and Japan.
It is known that the Portuguese used some islands in the vicinity of Macau as bases for their trade. The stay of the Portuguese seafarers in those islands was temporary, for they only came in some seasons of the year for commercial exchanges, erecting small structures to serve as trading posts.
Later, in 1557 according to the opinion of some historical resear- chers, the Portuguese obtained from the Chinese the concession of Macau in exchange for services rendered in the pacification of this coastal area which was in the control of pirates.
Evolution
The name of the city is derived from A-Ma-Cao (Port of A-Ma). A-Ma was the Chinese goddess, patron of fishermen and seafarers, who was enshrined in a temple, still existing today.
The territory was scarcely in- habited and was used only as a shel-
ter
for fishermen, with a small fishing village. With the settlement of the Portuguese an urban agglomeration was developed which started to undergo a process of evolution and growth due to the expansion of the trade with the kingdoms of the Far East, namely China and Japan.
The wealth brought by this trade caused the expansion of the city and the increase of population which for the most part was formed by traders and seafarers. Manor houses were erected by the wealthy merchants,
Far East Architect & Builder March, 1965
ITS HISTORY
ITS TOWN PLANNING
ITS ARCHITECTURE
with warehouses and godowns some- times annexed to them, as well as churches, forts and other military constructions.
Besides the commerce
an im- portant factor in the development of the city Catholicism played a preponderent role in Macau's life. With the arrival of missionaries several religions and welfare institu- tions were founded as well as schools and other educational organizations. All these structures contributed very deeply to the formation of the "sui generis" character that still prevails in Macau.
Administration
Due, among other reasons, to its great distance from the nearest Portuguese territories, the city de- veloped an autonomous and efficient administration. It was governed by a Senate formed by elected repre- sentatives of the population (alder- men), and magistrates, headed by a captain-general.
In the beginning of the 17th cen- tury Macau attained the climax of
LEAL SENADO
Municipal Council Building. "Monuments must
foundation for urban renewal"
be ...
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