The current state of heritage at risk

Cultural landscape and traditional rural architecture in Joinville (SC)

Abstract

The municipality of Joinville, located in the north-east of Santa Catarina, was included in the National Immigration Routes programme run by the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage, which led to a number of federal and state heritage listing processes for rural properties, beginning in the 2000s. The state of Santa Catarina plays a significant role in this project. As the most populous city in Santa Catarina and recognised for its industrial character, Joinville features, across a significant portion of its territory, rural activities and cultural landscapes linked to family farming, particularly those carried out on small rural properties. The main objective of this article was to analyse Joinville’s rural cultural heritage from an integrated perspective, considering vernacular architecture as part of the cultural landscape. Furthermore, this text sought to include some notes on current local legislation on the subject. The article aims to highlight the secondary status accorded to the city’s rural heritage, which, having been relegated to the background, is at risk of falling into ruin. The methodology of this article was based on bibliographic and documentary research into the local heritage, history and transformations of the rural area of Joinville. It is believed that this work may contribute to future actions and public policies on the subject with a more comprehensive, diverse and sensitive perspective.