Skins of Memory, Addressing the Erasure of Matriarchal Narrative in Luanda
Skins of Memory is a research project investigating the preservation and erased narratives within the architectural heritage of Luanda, Angola, focusing on the Palacio Dona Ana Joaquina, which now serves as the Luanda Criminal Court.
Skin of memory symbolizes a point of reference in time between the time period of 1800- current and reveals the essence of form. The project aims to explore how colonial architecture in Luanda has been maintained, often at the expense of erasing significant cultural practices and memories. The research examines the preservation and reconstruction of the Palacio Dona Ana Joaquina in order to uncover gaps and erasures in Luanda’s urban fabric. It also focuses on the contributions of the Atlantic Slave Trade and also explores Dona Ana Joaquina dos Santos Silva as a matriarchal figure in Luanda.
The research aims to uncover the silences and erasures to create a meaningful and significant design intervention by reading the city as an archive. It seeks to develop new tools and methods for identifying and preserving these narratives, emphasizing care as a critical component of preservation. The study examines how societies preserve complex architectural heritage and if historical architectural heritage can be recognized without erasure. Ultimately, the project proposes tactics of insurgency to resist assimilation and erasure, aiming to reinstate these hidden narratives within Luanda’s historical and contemporary identity. This work contributes to broader discussions on gender, identity, and the politics of space in post-colonial contexts.
The project seeks for more inclusive architectural approaches that resist the erasure of these narratives, advocating for more inclusive interventions in preservation practices, as this will help in shaping the city’s cultural memory and addressing spatial dynamics.
