Researching the traditional building culture of Costa da Lagoa, Santa Catarina, Brazil

In the middle of the eighteenth century, thousands of Azoreans immigrated to the South of Brazil. Many sites of the coast of Santa Catarina were settled and rural properties were developed. The research presented here is about the traditional building culture of Costa da Lagoa, in the district of Lagoa da Conceicao, Florianopolis, island of Santa Catarina. The place is located on the shore of the lagoon of Conceicao, accessed only by boat or trekking. By visiting the place and approaching the native residents, information was gained about the older houses, mills, etc. The findings, although preliminary, helped to structure issues and to reflect over the cultural values of this unique asset. The conclusion highlights many aspects such as the lack of proper care, the immobilisation of preservation activities, the cultural importance of the place and the potential for a deeper investigation and proposal for a cultural project.