Conservation of Rural Heritage and Rural Landscape in Recent Suburban Territories: a Portuguese Survey

Abstract

In general terms, the notion of rural architectural and landscape Heritage applies to highly singular and
authentic non-urban structures and territories. However, some ancient historic rural settlements on the
outskirts of large cities that have managed to survive are today also highly singular and authentic. In fact,
in many cases, these marks of rurality have become important reference points in territories characterized
by the continuous, built-up and dull sprawl of urbanization. How can we safeguard and manage these ancient
historic rural zones, suffering an accelerated process of obsolescence, wedged as they are in suburban areas
whose sheer scale crushes them? This concern motivated a small team of researchers from the University
of Porto to prepare a research project, called “Rural Architectural Heritage in the Municipalities of Porto and
Vila Nova de Gaia”. As the project is still in course, this paper raises a number of pressing issues on the
preservation of ancient rural elements (especially those representing significant heritage value) when
considering contemporary territorial structures. Although this paper is based on the Portuguese case,
focussing especially on the Porto Metropolitan Area and the Gaia municipality (portrayed in all the
illustrations), the considerations it presents can be applied to any European metropolitan area undergoing
rapid processes of expansion into ancient rural areas marked by a dispersed pattern of settlement.