Motivation

The previous congresses in the series of International Congresses on Luso-Brazilian Construction History (CIHCLB) took place in Vitória, Espírito Santo (Brazil) in 2013, Porto (Portugal) in 2016, and Salvador, Bahia (Brazil) in 2019. After the constraints of recent years associated with the pandemic, it is time to resume the normality of international, technical and scientific cooperation, therefore the next congress will be held in Guimarães in 2023.

The present congress intends to constitute a forum for the debate of the most recent studies on the history of construction processes, between Portugal and Brazil, in their multiple influences that pass also through Europe, Asia and Africa. In this context, understanding the building methods in a given place and in a given historical period – with which materials, techniques, machines and types of work organization – implies the contributions of various disciplines. In this context, it is meant to refer particularly to Architecture, Archeology and Engineering, but also to Economic and Social History, the History of Science and Construction Techniques, Physical Geography, Conservation and Restoration, Materials Science and many other disciplines.

The special theme of the congress, “CHANGING ENVIRONMENTS”, on the one hand aims to discuss, from a historical point of view and at different times, the great changes that resulted, for example, from the development of new materials and construction systems, new production or organizational systems, changes in legal frameworks, or the impacts of transpositions to new territories, or major catastrophes. On the other hand, it also reflects the enormous current and past challenges, which include, namely, the impact of the pandemic on research and education, climate change, the resilience of the built environment and highly complex systems, or the need to ensure a living heritage, in which the built heritage, in its material and immaterial aspects, and the sharing of constructive cultures have an essential contribution to support recovery and an inclusive society.

The congress has as main stakeholders architects, engineers, archaeologists, conservators/restorers, historians, sociologists, economists and others interested in the subject of the history of construction, whether as professionals, researchers or students. The objective is for the congress to become a place of excellence for the dissemination of the latest scientific and technical developments and for the exchange of new ideas on emerging topics.