Fragmentos de um passado presente: pré-inventário das edificações históricas na praça Barão do Rio Branco – Estância/SE

Abstract

This study aims to document and analyze the 19th and 20th century buildings located around Barão do Rio Branco Square, in Estância, Sergipe, through the development of a preliminary architectural inventory. It is based on the understanding of cultural heritage as a support of memory, identity, and symbolic value, recognizing systematic documentation as an essential preservation tool. The research adopts a qualitative, descriptive, and analytical approach,supported by bibliographic review, documentary research, and fieldwork with photographic records and on-site façade analysis. Different inventory models were examined, especially the Integrated Knowledge and Management System (SICG/IPHAN), as well as applied experiences in other urban contexts, which supported the development of an adapted inventory form suitable to the local reality. The analysis focused on the typological, stylistic, and morphological characterization of façades, identifying continuities, transformations, and processes of alteration over time. The results highlight the architectural diversity of the studied urban ensemble and emphasize the importance of technical instruments to guide heritage appreciation and preservation actions. It is concluded that the preliminary inventory represents a fundamental step toward the recognition of built heritage and the strengthening of preservation policies in the municipality of Estância.