Co-Organized by

The residential block at Rua dos Ervanarios no.66, Macau, was built in 1945, is a residential building with special-featured terrace and the characteristic of modern architecture. The building has no fancy decoration. However, just with its distinct modern styles, the building tells people the stories of 20th century’s "modern" trend which is often neglected, as well as the urban development of modern Macau. After the Industrial Revolution, the materials and structure of architectures received a rapid development. Steel in structures, cement and reinforced concrete, and scientific application in building structures and mechanics gave birth to a breakthrough in the height and span of the building.

 

Rua dos Ervanarios used to be a busy commercial street, mainly consisting of antique shops, grocery stores and collections of nostalgia. In recent years, Rua dos Ervanarios has been reinjected with the cultural creative elements to revitalize and reproduce the bustling commercial scene of the past. Nowadays, old shops and new shops both exist in the street. The neighbors said that the residential building has its own unique characteristics, like the special-featured terrace. It is hoped that the government will take the conservation of the original appearance as the priority in the future, and then develop its interior to turn the neighborhood into cultural and creative bases.

 

Residential Block retains its architectural style. there is no one living inside nowadays and communities do not have a deep impression on it. The existence of Residential Block is a remark in history. Although we cannot change its past, we can develop a new and more special future for it. Last but not least, it is hoped that Residential Block can be redeveloped into a new landmark while maintaining its original architectural style, so as to continue its story.

關前正街66號是擁有「走馬騎樓」的住宅大廈，建於1945年，儘管是一棟簡單的住宅建築，但卻是相當具有特色的現代建築。此建築沒有花巧複雜的外觀，但正如其截然不同的現代風格，向人們訴說經常被忽略的二十世紀「摩登」風潮，以及近代澳門的城市發展。

經歷過工業革命後，建築在材料和結構上出現飛躍式的發展。鋼材採用於建築結構，水泥和鋼筋混凝土的廣泛使用，加上科學應用在建築結構和力學上，使建築的高度和跨度出現前所未見的突破。

 

關前街曾是熱鬧的商業街道，主要有古董店、雜貨店和懷舊收藏店等。近年，關前正街重新注入文創元素活化，重現昔日繁華的商業景象，現時街道上老店新鋪並存。附近居民表示住宅大廈的建築甚具特色，期望政府日後能以保持原貌為首要，再將住宅大廈的內部發展為文創基地。

 

住宅大廈現今保留了其建築風格，但內部已沒有人居住，居民對其印象也不深，住宅大廈的存在是歷史的印記。我們雖然不能改變它的過去，但我們可以發展新的、更有特式的將來。最後，希望住宅大廈可以在保持原有建築風格之下，重新發展成新的地標，延續它的故事。