The become of the factory: Industrial Heritage at strife in the East Zone of São Paulo

Abstract

The processes of economic reconversion that took place in the world metropolises since the last decade of the last century have been frequently analyzed with reference to the field of economic science, whose emphasis is on the consequences of deindustrialization, giving less enhancement to the destinies of the built environment in the urban space during industrial activity. In São Paulo there has been a growing process of industrial deconcentration since the beginning of this millennium, in which the East Zone has suffered its greatest impact. Since there are significant areas involved, a dispute arose over the requalification of this industrial heritage, opposing on one side real estate business and on the other, not always associated, residents and the city council, mainly represented by the preservation departments. From this installed conflict arises the possibility of proposing an analysis of the process of economic conversion from the perspective guided by the field of knowledge of cultural heritage. Considering the international guidelines for the preservation of cultural heritage, including the required social role of museums, and the multidimensional character of experiences that have become paradigmatic for the safeguarding of industrial heritage, it is evident that the act of putting under governmental trust and / or simple maintenance of factory buildings are not enough actions to fulfill the social function of heritage, including from the perspective of work itself as a living culture and identity-forming process. Based on the analysis of the new functions given to old factories in the East Zone of São Paulo, the text seeks to ponder over the intended use of factory buildings.