The architectural heritage of Macao is a vivid proof
of Macao being an international trade port and a cultural melting pot between
the East and the West since the 16th century.
Macao is now at a crucial period in its history. Its forty year long exclusive
gambling franchise has ended and the Macao S. A. R. Government has made its
economic strategies clear that the gambling industry will take the lead and be
the driving force of other local industries. Within a short time span, Macao
will experience a facelift in terms of urban development and townscape.
2002 has been designated by the United Nations as the Year of Cultural Heritage.
Through the National Cultural Relics Bureau of the Central Government, Macao has
filed an application with UNESCO to include its architectural sites in the World
Heritage List.
The Cultural Institute of the Macao S. A. R. Government has grasped this
unprecedented opportunity and challenge to invite overseas professionals and
experts who have long been involved in cultural heritage and conservation to
come to Macao to share their experiences and concepts. It is hoped that
references can be drawn from their broad visions and solid theoretical grounds
in the formulation of future strategies on cultural heritage conservation for
Macao.
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Theme of the conference:
The Conservation of Urban Heritage:
Macao Vision
Sub-themes:
(1) Cultural Significance (including cultural identity and historical
development).
(2) Urban Development vs. Heritage Preservation (including planning issues and
urban design guidelines).
(3) Adaptive Re-use (including tourism development, public use, and economic
viability).
Sub-theme 1 – Cultural Significance
With the influx of new money, will the people of Macao change their mode of
life? Will they find this sudden change too complex to cope with? Will people be
bewildered by their future? Will people’s sense of identity become vague? This
session attempts to examine the cultural significance of place and people.
Sub-theme 2 – Development vs. preservation
Past efforts to preserve Macao’s cultural and architectural legacies cannot be
ignored in the future fast-paced urban development, which includes the building
of more hotels, casinos, public facilities and infrastructure. The question is
how to blend the old in with the new, how to observe and respect existing
conservation zones while coping with future urban development pressures? What
are the relevant theoretical frameworks? What additional or other legislation
will be needed to strengthen the current heritage legislation? What role
(particularly in planning) should the government play in balancing the act?
Sub-theme 3 – Adaptive Re-use
Macao currently has 128 classified sites listed under 4 categories. How should
these items be treated in the making of the new city? What are the roles of the
new investors if they wish to play a part in protecting the old? Are there
formulae to turn historic buildings into successful economic viabilities and use
them while giving them new lives? How can old historic buildings and other
buildings in the conservation zones be used in a culturally and economically
sustainable manner?
This conference will take the form of presentation sessions and workshops. The
conference will be open to the public. Interested participants should please
complete the attached registration form and send it either by fax or e-mail to:
Conference Secretariat:
The Cultural Institute of the Macao S. A. R. Government
Studies, Research & Publications Division (D.E.I.P.)
Rua Pedro Coutinho, no. 27, Ed. “Queen’s Court”, 2-F, Macao, China
Tel: (853) 5993102
Fax: (853) 529242
E-mail: info.deip@icm.gov.mo
Papers will be presented in English with interpretation into Cantonese and
Mandarin.
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Academic Committee:
Chair: Dr. Daniel Tse (Chairman of University Council, University of Macau)
Honorary Secretary: Prof. David Lung (Director of the Department of
Architecture, Hong Kong University)
Members: Mr. Eddie Wong (President of the Macao Architects Association)
Dr. José Chui (President of CAA City Planning & Engineering Consultants Ltd.)
Prof. Carlos Marreiros (Director of Marreiros Architects, Engineers and Town
Planners Ltd.)
Mr. Stephen Chan (Head of the Cultural Heritage Department of
the Cultural Institute of the Macao S. A. R. Government)
Speakers:
Mr. Richard Engelhardt (Regional Advisor for Culture in Asia and the
Pacific, UNESCO Bangkok)
Dr. Roland Silva (Honorary President of ICOMOS)
Dr. Yasuyuki Aoshima (Director and Representative of UNESCO Office Beijing)
Prof. Herbert Stovel (Director of ICCROM’s Heritage Settlements Unit, Rome)
Prof. Wu Liangyong (Director of Institute of Architectural and Urban Studies,
Tsinghua University, Beijing)
Dr. Christina Cheng (Honorary Research Fellow, Centre of Asian Studies, Hong
Kong University)
Dr. Heng Chye Kiang (Acting Head of Department of Architecture, National
University of Singapore)
Dr. Harold Kalman (Principal of Commonwealth Historic Resource Management
Limited)
Dr. Ferdinand Lamarca (Vice President for Planning, Research and Extension,
University of Northern Philippines)
Dr. Yongtanit Pimonsathean (Assistant Professor, Department of Urban & Regional
Planning, Faculty of
Architecture, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL),
Bangkok)
Mr. Christopher Pound (ICOMOS, Member of International Scientific Committee on
Historic Towns)
Ms. Amita Baig (Heritage Management Consultant, India)
Mr. Laurence Loh (Executive Director, Arkitek LLA Sdn Bhd, Penang)
Organizing Committee
Chair: Ms. Heidi Ho (President of the Cultural Institute of the Macao
S. A. R. Government)
Members: Prof. David Lung (Director of the Department of Architecture,
Hong Kong University)
Mr. Stephen Chan (Head of the Cultural Heritage Department of the Cultural
Institute of the Macao S. A. R. Government)
Dr. Stella Lee (Head of the Studies, Research and Publications Division of the
Cultural Institute of the Macao S. A. R. Government)
Conference Secretariat:
The Cultural Institute of the Macao S. A. R. Government
Studies, Research & Publications Division (D.E.I.P.)
Rua Pedro Coutinho, no. 27, Ed. “Queen’s Court”, 2-F, Macao, China
Tel: (853) 5993102
Fax: (853) 529242
E-mail: info.deip@icm.gov.mo