BEST PORTUGAL BRANDS
Isabel Maria interview
Design, Industry and Heritage in Industrial Tourism in Portugal
Deolinda Folgado, researcher and specialist in industrial heritage, talks about the role of design in enhancing manufacturing spaces, the challenges of industrial tourism in Portugal and the potential of Fábrica de Moagem as a living nucleus of culture and memory.
Since her academic training, Deolinda Folgado has been interested in topics related to heritage remains associated with the industry in its various aspects, from the landscape, to urbanism, to architecture, to housing, to sociability and objects. Within this area, he coordinated several inventories at national level, proceeded with the elaboration of several proposals for classifying industrial heritage and/or architecture, monitoring several cases at national level. Taught at FCSH.NOVA the optional subject of Industrial Museology in the Master of Museology. His PhD focused on urbanism and architecture of modern industry, essentially from Lisbon – “The New Industrial Order in the Estado Novo. From the Factory to the Territory of Lisbon. 1933-1968”. Author of numerous articles, books on this topic. At the moment, performs coordination functions within the scope of the installation of the future nucleus of the Lisbon Museum, the Grinding Factory.
In this exclusive interview, Deolinda Folgado — researcher, curator and specialist in industrial heritage — tells us about the transformative role of design in the revaluation of factory spaces, the importance of public policies and collaborative networks, and the challenge of affirming Portugal as a destination for creative industrial tourism. The conversation takes place in the context of Lisbon Design Week, which kicked off the exhibition of architect and designer Le Brimet who transforms the Grinding Factory, not blessed, at a meeting point between design, industry, art and memory to this day 20 .
Industrial tourism has been establishing itself as a new way of getting to know Portugal — through its factories, of the brands that keep their know-how alive and the contemporary reinterpretation of their heritage. We believe that this segment is fundamental to connecting design, territory, culture and production.
How did the invitation or challenge to join the Lisbon Design Week program come about?, with the Le Brimet exhibition at Fábrica de Moagem?
This challenge arose as part of the preparation of the annual program that takes place for the Beato Innovation District and simultaneously for the Fábrica de Moagem – Lisbon Museum / Lisbon Culture, in this case for the year 2025.
View this post on Instagram
Brimet exhibition assumes a symbolic place in programming, by crossing design and industrial production. What does this exhibition represent for you as a specialist in industrial tourism?
Industrial Tourism must be approached from a comprehensive and total perspective, as much as possible, where the various actors who participate in this design of artistic creation and respective connection with the industry are present. O Turismo Industrial, will therefore have to expand the patrimonial dimension, undoubtedly, also one of the axes of activity of this cultural segment.
In your opinion, What role can contemporary design play in the revaluation of factory spaces and lively Portuguese industry and heritage?
Contemporary design or contemporary art have in industrial spaces disaffected from their initial function areas, absolutely inviting atmospheres and contexts to welcome contemporary artistic discourse and even of a more classical nature. Of course, that industrial spaces can reach us with different states of conservation, sometimes it is difficult to have this immediate and direct appropriation. However, Architects have long looked at manufacturing spaces with this potential in which both constructive and artistic languages gain more strength in the intended communication. I highlight, just, to Lina Bo Bardi (1914-1992) and the SEC Pompeia (1977), me S. Paulo, Brazil.
What has the dialogue between cultural institutions been like?, municipalities and industrial units regarding the opening of factories to the public, and the creation of tourist experiences with cultural value?
Assuming that it is not possible to fully save all the cultural legacy we have inherited, despite the fact that throughout the history of cultural heritage itself there has been a natural expansion of the typology of assets to be protected, Portugal has so far been unable to establish a judicious and “egalitarian” look at the legacy designated as industrial heritage..
One of the problems diagnosed, right away, is the total absence of public policies for Industrial Heritage. It was from civil society, notably at the height of associations defending cultural heritage, the first actions to recognize and enhance Industrial Heritage emerged, with municipalities playing a very important role, as well as some companies, in the conversion of former industrial spaces into industrial museums, thus safeguarding the recent identity and memory linked to factory work, technology and technique. Therefore, much industrial legacy with cultural value was and is destroyed.
Another problem diagnosed was the fact that during the first years that work began on this cultural legacy, networking was absent, given that urgent action measures involved decisions and financing supported by local authorities, in the first place, often using European funds. It will be important to remember that within the scope of the museums or monuments protected by the current structure of Museums and Monuments of Portugal, there are none of an industrial nature.. These museum spaces or belong to local authorities, to companies or universities, for example. Does not exist, like this, no national museum about the industrialization process that took place in the national territory.
That being said, There are still not many examples of industrial tourism experiences in the country. I highlight the work of Tourism in the Center of Portugal, in this field, and Industrial Tourism of S. João da Madeira.
Portugal Faz Bem has contributed to map and activate industrial tourism with a creative and transversal perspective – although still in an embryonic phase. How do you see this approach?? What gaps does the project fill??
Portugal Faz Bem could help create a nationwide work base, in conjunction with various entities considered stakeholders in this domain, in order to accelerate the creation of assets / products in this tourism and heritage segment.
What are the main challenges that still arise for the sustainable implementation of industrial tourism in Portugal? We talk about infrastructure, narratives, rankings or lack of institutional recognition?
I have already answered some of these questions. However, I will list in a very objective way:
– Lack of institutional recognition, above all for what is considered cultural heritage, a quarter of the 21st century, particularly regarding the study, to inventory, to classification, to defining policies, namely regional, to the rescue, refunctionalization of this heritage typology and consequent tourist enjoyment.
– Lack of a national plan that looks at new heritage, as it exists in Spain, France, Italy, etc., etc.
– Difficulty in networking between the ministries they oversee, for example, the culture, tourism and education. I remember fighting, within a work group, this fragmentation and we managed to sit Culture and Tourism at the same table for the theme “Camino de Santiago”.
– Looking at industrial spaces as great areas for new buildings, forgetting all international recommendations regarding the conversion and reuse of manufacturing spaces.
– The still incomprehension, even by political decision-makers, the importance of this legacy.
– Now, if on the basis of industrial tourism it has to be work done a priori, which involves the decision-making mentioned above, and it is natural that IT consolidation is less achieved and depends, often, of case-by-case safeguards.
If we think about Lisbon, for example, the creation of a circuit within the scope of Industrial Tourism also does not integrate any museum that is within the state or municipal sphere.
Believes that Portugal has the potential to position itself internationally as a creative industrial tourism destination, at the level of countries like France, Spain, Germany or Italy? What's left to get there??
I believe, sim.
What role can events such as Lisbon Design Week and exhibitions that highlight the repositioning of Portuguese industry play?, not just as a producer, but as a generator of culture and heritage?
It is essential that this transdisciplinary perspective connects for the development of these initiatives, showing that it is possible to think and do differently. However, It is worth noting that if these manufacturing spaces still have an aura that distinguishes them, it is because they contain cultural values that imply attention to the areas of conservation and restoration., inventory and safeguard and in the interpretation itself. Just like that, a dialogue between the past and the present will be possible, designing the future.
What are, for himself, the Portuguese industrial sectors with the greatest capacity to tell good stories – and which can be the stage for new visiting experiences or creative residencies?
Any industrial sector can tell good stories and be the stage for visiting experiences or artistic residencies. Of course, that it will always be necessary to understand the financial availability and the social and cultural value that companies intend to add to society in general. After, it will be necessary to define an action program, with strategic lines and objectives, in order to create a narrative that unites these various areas around the industry, once again in your values, past, present and future, alongside the appreciation of artistic creation.
What message would you leave to cultural agents, designers and industrialists who have not yet explored the tourist and narrative potential of their production units?
Many of the cultural agents, designers and industrialists may even be aware of this potential in their spaces, it will be necessary to put them in dialogue and create common objectives.
Why do you think visitors should go to Fábrica de Moagem between the 30 May and 20 ? What will you see?
Just for you, to Grinding factory It is a unique space in Portugal and Lisbon, to which in the coming days other layers of communication and information will be added – design + industry, which as a whole will constitute an obligatory place to visit within Lisbon Design Week and until 20 of June.