Summary

The International Seminar Colonial and Post-Colonial Landscapes: Macau, Architecture and Labour will take place on 24 and 25 October at the University of Saint Joseph in Macau. This event will bring together the LabourMap-Macao research project team, based at Dinâmia’CET-Iscte (Portugal), and coordinated by Ana Vaz Milheiro. The project is partnered by the University of Saint Joseph (USJ), Docomomo Macau, the Rui Cunha Foundation, the Centre for Architecture and Urbanism of Macau (CURB), and the Portuguese Overseas Historical Archive (AHU).

LabourMap-Macao aims to analyse the impact of mass labour on the construction of infrastructure and public buildings during the period of Portuguese rule in Macau, highlighting the often-invisible role of the workers involved in these projects. Through studying master plans, architectural designs, construction sites and labour movements, the project offers a more nuanced interpretation of the relationship between Portuguese colonisation and Macau’s history, focusing on public works. The research crosses Portuguese and British colonial contexts through the case studies of Macau and Hong Kong, exploring the intersections between architecture, labour, and construction history.

During the seminar, LabourMap-Macao researchers will present their ongoing work, addressing topics such as colonial public works in Macau, architects and workers, traditional and modern construction materials and systems, photographs of construction sites, gender issues, as well as buildings and infrastructures such as the Pedro Nolasco School (now Macao Portuguese School), the Taipa–Macau Bridge and the São Januário Hospital. The programme also includes a roundtable discussion with Principal Investigator Ana Vaz Milheiro and project consultants Cecilia Chu (Chinese University of Hong Kong) and Rui Leão (LBA Arquitectos / Docomomo Macau).

Click here for the conference program.