Tudo o que é sólido se transforma na cidade: uma análise dos conjuntos habitacionais em Natal/RN à luz do espaço terciário

Abstract

This thesis is based on the principle that cities are dynamic and subject to change. Such transformations create new realities and redefine urban spaces, which can be evaluated as improvements or not. In areas with previously defined uses, such as housing complexes, we observed a shift in the use of residential spaces, primarily towards their appropriation for new purposes: commerce and/or services. We noted a transition to tertiary uses in all horizontal complexes financed by the National Housing Bank (BNH) in the city of Natal, as well as various transformations corresponding to different types of activities within urban production circuits. Given that tertiary spaces are considered crucial for the organization and structuring of cities, the objective of this thesis is to investigate the development of tertiary spaces in horizontal residential complexes funded by the BNH in Natal/RN. It examines their evolution into mixed-use areas and the creation of new urban dynamics in the contemporary city. Methodologically, we employed documentary research, focusing on the newspapers Diário de Natal and Tribuna do Norte, and conducted field research involving mapping the usage of the complexes and surveying representatives from the tertiary sector within these complexes. The Candelária and Jiqui Complexes, which exhibited the highest levels of change to commercial and service activities, served as the primary subjects of analysis. The data collected and analyzed confirm that the repurposing of residential spaces has transformed these complexes into venues for commercial and service activities, effectively converting areas originally intended for housing into spaces of consumption and creating new urban centers. While avenues are the primary locations for the tertiary sector, other locations also play a role, reflecting the sector's varied locational strategies.