Acessibilidade em sítios históricos urbanos: a contribuição da sinalização para orientação espacial

Abstract

Assuming that the Cultural Heritage belongs to all people, residents, tourists, and visitors in general, it is understood that, to guarantee its appropriation with safety, comfort, and autonomy, the space needs to be accessible. Spatial accessibility comprises four dimensions: displacement, use, communication, and spatial orientation, contemplated from the formal characteristics of architecture and the urban environment and different formats and types of signage. Given the difficulty of adapting historic areas to accessibility, justified by physical characteristics or legal restrictions, it is recommended to implement Accessible Routes – continuous, unobstructed, and signposted paths – that connect open spaces and buildings. In this sense, the thesis deals with the importance of installing accessible urban signage in urban historical sites, considering the population's deficiencies and abilities, local specificities, and the referential elements of the landscape. To verify the relationship between the urban context and the existing urban signage on accessible routes implemented in historic sites, the experiences of Olinda and Salvador were analyzed. The research methodology included a bibliographic survey, documental survey, field research, and analysis of results. In the field, exploratory visits were carried out to recognize the routes, map the signs and referential elements of the landscape, survey, and characterization of the existing signs. After tabulating and analyzing the results, the insufficiency of signs and maps, the degradation and lack of maintenance of the existing signage, and the lack