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Praya Grande in the 19th century

Beginning as a relatively small fishing village in the 16th century, Macao has become by the end of the 20^th century, an impressive cosmopolitan and multiracial city-state.

During this long period there was a mutual cultural and technological influence which was beneficial, in the general balance, to both sides, Chinese and Western. Macao was the sucessful scenario for the first encouter.

The old predominant “image”of Macao was the “Praia Grande” (long beach) where a row of dignified western houses, extended along 700 yards in a pleasant promenade covered with trees paralel to the crescent shape of the bay.

The Chinese city was located toward the Inner Harbour and the surrounding streets of the western urban nucleus.

Macao’s architecture is mainly influenced by the West, due to the fact that it was a Portuguese settlement for almost 450 years.

One can depict Macao´s old urbanism and architecture surviving as an island amidst the sea of Asian practices.

This urban distinctiveness gives Macao a specific cultural identity that deeply ingrained in the lives of its people and its visitors.

In other words, Macao’s architecture gives the city a particular “image” that influence the development and modelling of its special outlook and identity, making this place a natural destination for the cultural tourism.

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The Rua Direita (which means “right or strait” in Portuguese) was the common name for the medieval main streets and is the skeleton of Taipa Village urban fabric.

The “epicenter” of Taipa Historical Center (THC) is located in the former slaughterhouse, a few meters from the Yec Long Factory main gate.

The boundaries of the THC are delimitated by the Avenida Olimpica, Regedor Street and the new Road of the Bay of Our Lady of Hope. In the THC had an important legacy of 18^th century buildings.

On the surrounding streets were located the first public market, temples, a pawn tower, several shops and restaurants, government department, Church, library, the 5 painted green houses museum, the former hangar of the sea planes squadron (still exist, now a dilapidated government building), etc. The group of these clustered buildings is what creates a pleasant historical and cultural ambience

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In the mid 19^th century, Taipa had a constant grow in population. In 1896 the islands had 12.802 register land and sea (fisherman) inhabitants. After 1910, the number of public buildings grows fast in Taipa and Coloane Islands.

In the 1920’s the Public Works department built five houses for government officers in the Avenida da Praia in Taipa, now adapted to function as museum furnished with memories.

Some residents remember with nostalgia the ringing of bells from the Our Lady of Carmo Church, built in 1885 in Hilltop at the foot of the Avenida de Praia.

They bringing back memories from the time when was a free show to wash a squadron of Macau sea planes, taking of and landing in the calms waters of this sea bay, now transformed in a large pound looking apprehensively toward Disney inspired designed buildings projected from the entertainment industry.

Barra, is the Portuguese name given to the place were the river met with the sea, or the Inner Harbor. Before the arrival of the Portuguese, in 1557, fisherman from the Chinese province of Fukien used this area.

Most of the dwellings were made of timber, a provisional material since many of them live inside the fishing boats.

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Coloane Village still keeps some of the original ambience of the previous Inner Harbor of Macau peninsula.

Coloane Island was inhabit by fisherman in the western beach were a village was settle and by pirates in the groves and small beaches in the East part. Farming existed in the inner valley.

The Portuguese presence here was almost inexistent in the architecture until 1920’s when government buildings like barracks, markets, libraries, police station, school and health center were built.

A church was build in 1928 and the neoclassic arcade in mid 90’s

The public life developed around the two main public squares, one in from of the Church, the other in front of the police station and market.

Public well were also places were the women met when washing the laundry and collecting water for cooking.

Shipyards and sea houses on stilts built over sallow water in the Lai Chi Van area. A stone quarry was for many years the main supplier of cement to Macau.

The Rua dos Negociantes (merchants street) is the last one where the traditional trade is last surviving from ancient times to recent pressure for “redevelopment”, erasing a unique heritage.

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(Top)Taipa Island andperspective of the ancient seashore in the historic center, now Governor Tamagnini Barbosa Square 1920’sTamagnini Barbosa square (Top).

Taipa Island Was Know as the Dragon Arch two centuries ago. Was divided in two hills.

Now a day, through land reclamation the two parts are united. The majority of the population was fisherman and farmers. Oyster oil and firecrackers production had a great increase in the last century. Pirates attacked several times this wealthy place.

Presently is the area of Macau SAR with the highest urban indices of growing.

In the last 10 years was built several 40 floors habitation buildings, an airport, a University campus, two bridges (one to Macau, the other to China), a Stadium, several hotels and casinos, water reservoirs, etc.

With such urban pressure, the old Taipa Village had acquired a tremendous historical and cultural value, due to the pleasant ambience of its semi rural architecture with an eclectic style, were Portuguese and Chinese elements are mixed in a practical a original way.

Top, typical Taipa houses with western influences.

Above, the former Taipa city hall headquarters

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Taipa Village is the area of Macau which held together more public and government buildings and spaces, making easy in terms of sustainability and maintenance, particularly having in mind the tremendous potential for the tourist industry.

The pedestrian area of Taipa Village is periodically invaded by swarms of tourists, which frequent the famous restaurants in this area.

The plan of remodeling of the Street and Square named after Governor Tamagnini Barbosa, could definitely improve the area where western and Chinese buildings merge in semi a rural romantic ambience.

The main buildings are the Tin Hau and Bak Tai temples, the former headquarters of the Islands municipality and many other small buildings of vernacular architecture.

(Top)Taipa Island andperspective of the ancient seashore in the Taipa Historic Center, now Governor Tamagnini Barbosa Square

Taipa typical houses (bellow)

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