A cidade em camadas:

patrimônio, tempo e disputas de memória em Vitória da Conquista (BA)

Abstract

This article analyzes the city of Vitória da Conquista (BA) through the notion of “layers of memory” and highlights how the urban landscape expresses disputes between preservation and spatial use. The research was based on bibliographic review, documentary analysis, and photographic records. The study focused on two axes: the historic architecture of the city center and the Lagoa das Bateias. In the first, the absence of preservation policies has favored the replacement of old houses with buildings, resulting in the erasure of cultural references. In the second, it was observed that, despite recent revitalizations, the lagoon remains affected by environmental problems related to sanitation and urban pressure. The study concludes that Vitória da Conquista exemplifies how medium-sized Brazilian cities bring together different temporalities in their spatial configuration and confirms that heritage preservation is a process in permanent dispute.