Viver na história: o Lord hotel como solução habitacional no centro de Fortaleza

Abstract

The present study aims to explore the housing potential of the central area of the city of Fortaleza through an experience of occupying a built void as a tool to combat the city’s concerning housing deficit. The research is based on the phenomenon of downtown depopulation, analyzing the urban dynamics that contributed to this process during the growth of the capital of Ceará. To this end, consultations and critical analyses were conducted using various databases that demonstrate the behavior of both the formal and informal real estate sectors, as well as an assessment of the housing deficit indicator and its evolution in the context of Fortaleza over the years. Furthermore, considering the historical value of the city’s central area, this study sought to understand the key heritage concepts and policies at the national level. Thus, a connection was established between the housing interest in occupying downtown Fortaleza and the preservation of the built cultural heritage in this area, using retrofit as a tool for the requalification of historic buildings, converting them into social housing developments. Finally, based on a diversified architectural reference framework, a retrofit project was developed for the Lord Hotel Building, adhering to architectural and urban planning guidelines that aim to reactivate the building to accommodate families in situations of social vulnerability