Abstract:

Thro history, humankind has devised various ways of conveying his cultural heritage to future generations, most commonly in the form of artistic and architectural creations as examples of his cultural existence. For the residents of the city, these locations and buildings may in time become important cultural symbols, enabling them to connect with their past lives and to integrate the past and the future. The post office that one goes by every day, a glorious monument, the statue before which people have rendezvous, the old theatre building that has witnessed our childhood as well as that of our children, the train station where uncountable separations and reunions take place, all help inhabitants to form strong roots that go deep in the city. These not only assist in connecting with one’s past, but also in establishing a respectful attachment to the history and geography that he or she lives in and eventually lead to will and efforts to pass these values to future generations. City memory is a collective memory that is made of the social, cultural and historical experiences of the residents. Historical buildings that enrich cities are actually the products of the cultural and artistic background of the society and this cultural heritage is passed on to form a collective memory that spans multiple generations. Ceramics has always shed light on the development of civilization and has been an indicator of the economic, political and cultural progress of the society. Thro history, people have used ceramics as architectural elements, among innumerable other uses. The most common practice is to use ceramics on inner and outer surfaces of buildings. High and low reliefs, mosaics, classical or modern panels with or without glaze have been widely used to depict decorative or illustrative forms. Porto Sao Bento Central Train Station is a unique and magnificent example of such structures. This is a huge building, covered on the inside by massive brush-decor glazed ceramics and merits mention and study. Other prominent examples of buildings with surface ceramics which have important roles in their corresponding urban memories will also be presented.

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