In the last 15 years, Macau has become widely known as a casino city with a bustling gaming industry. Although gambling was legalized in the mid 19th century, it was only after the handover to China that Macau opened its doors to foreign gaming investments, and it is now the only Chinese region where gambling is legal. Beyond the dazzling lights of the casinos are over 400 years of history of Portuguese and Chinese interchange, as well as other European presence, which has led to a unique social, religious, cultural and urban mixture. Twenty-two main buildings and public spaces representing the old trading port city became the anchor for the inscription of the Historic Centre of Macau as a World Heritage Site in 2005.
The relation between the city’s gaming life and historic character is, however, quite complex. The role of entertainment and economic activity has also in recent years, shaped the urban landscape in very drastic ways. Development pressures and property speculation have challenged the preservation and safeguarding of historical buildings, shaping the historical character of the city. In a society that favours monetary gains, the result has been that many buildings have been demolished while building façades have been retained as empty shells of their previous forms. Whereas the choice to retain a glimpse of a past structure – its façade – has been a debated approach in conservation contexts, another situation has arisen in Macau – the purposeful construction of historic-looking façades in casinos, in the attempt to lure gamblers into a world of entertainment. How does this façadism creation influence the way heritage is perceived, especially when deliberations are made regarding its building preservation or demolition? How does the city connect with its own past?
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The rest of this article was published at the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA)’s website. Please check out this link for more information: http://iflaonline.org/2016/03/challenges-of-the-casino-and-historic-city-of-macau-preserving-heritage-amidst-the-creation-of-stage-set-townscapes/
Photo Credit: Ruins of Saint Paul part of the Historic Center of Macau (© Macao Heritage Board)
CALAHE Environmental Consultancy Services 