Colonialismo, modernismo e agência: burocracia e obras públicas no colonialismo tardio português

Abstract

The article analyses the bureaucracy in constructing public works in the former African colonies under Portuguese rule and its historical background. Focusing on the country’s late colonialism, it problematises the interpretation that justifies the exceptionality of the architecture built in these territories, unparalleled in the metropolis, with the purported lesser agency of central power in its implementation. To this end, legislation is examined on: a) the organisation of colonial public works services and its application to a particular colony (Mozambique); b) the evolution of the colonial public works sector in the central administration; and c) the awarding, evaluation and supervision of public works. By cross-referencing it with archival documentation, the extensive interference of the Ministry of Colonies/Overseas Territories in the supervision of public architecture projects is proven, a contribution is made to the reinterpretation of the coexistence between colonialism and modern architecture, and avenues for future research are proposed.

Keywords

• Africa
• architecture
• Portuguese empire
• modernism
• public works
• legislation