Set of Working-Class Houses
Cataguases/MG
Description: Conjunto de Residências (Vilas) Operárias (Set of Working-class Houses) is located on Francisca de Souza Peixoto Street, in the Jardim neighbourhood, in the city of Cataguases. The authorship of the project is attributed to architect Francisco Bologna. In a period when magnificent modernist buildings were being built, the more modest constructive activity of the group of working-class houses was incremented. The expansion of the Teresa and Minalda groups was registered then. The Domingos Lopes group of houses, near the Railway Station, existed since the first years of the Railway’s existence and consolidated the urban occupation in that direction. The Reis group of houses, which developed alongside the tracks, in the exit to the city of Vista Alegre, which is also old, had a minor development and was practically stagnant in the 1950’s. The affirmation of the city’s industrial destiny happened in the 1930’s and was consolidated in the following decade. Urban expansion went beyond flat areas, already occupied, towards the hills and railway tracks, where there are seven industrial groups of houses, amongst which the Jardim group stands out due to its superiority.
Situation:The group of working-class houses belong to the Industrial Company of Cataguases and maintain their original function. According to the data from a fieldwork done in 2004, the groups of houses are in a regular state of conservation.
Inventory information:Although the Deliberative Council of IPHAN has already decided that the heritage of Cataguases is under the protection of the Federal Union, it has not been listed in the books yet.
