MITRA - Polo de Economia Social - Volume 5

The collection that Santa Casa da Misericórdia publishes about its heritage of historical and artistic interest continues with the fifth volume dedicated to the Mitra building complex, located in Poço do Bispo in Marvila. Several phases are connected to this building complex, from its integration in the estate of the first Patriarch of Lisbon, to its transformation into a cork factory - Fábrica Seixas -, warehouse for the historic fire engines and, finally, its function as an asylum/ hostel for beggars and for gathering long-term psychiatric patients, which will have had the effect of stigmatising the place and its inhabitants. Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Lisbon has decided that this history cannot be retraced or compensated for its less positive outlines, but that Mitra deserves that the purpose it now lends to it may allow its memory to be respected and its future to be promising. The aim behind this collection is to enhance the value of the heritage dimension through permanent dialogue between the author of the historical study and the architect responsible for the rehabilitation project, in a cross-fertilisation of complementary views and experiences that enrich both the reading of the past and the hypotheses of the most appropriate solutions for future operations.

General Coordination: Maria Eduarda Napoleão;
Editorial Coordination: Editorial Center / Culture Directorate of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa
Authors: History, urbanism and architecture João Miguel Simões; From the Reception of Orphans to the School of Social Workers of São Pedro de Alcântara Luísa Colen; Existing artistic heritage João Miguel Simões; From Bairro Alto to the world: the Casa do Impacto Inês Sequeira; Rehabilitation project Property and Heritage Management Department / Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa

Illustrator: Silvadesigners
Model: Ophelia – Estúdio Design & Comunicação
Revision: João Miguel Simões

Photography and Image: Ajuda Library / Directorate General of Cultural Heritage Fundação Oriente; Audiovisual and Multimedia Center / Communication and Marketing Department at Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa; Museum of São Roque / Directorate of Culture of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa Institute of National Archives / Torre do Tombo; National Museum of Sculpture, Valladolid, Spain; National Museum of Ancient Art

Acknowledgements: Ajuda National Palace Library; Orient Foundation; National Museum of Sculpture, Valladolid, Spain; National Museum of Ancient Art; Vitor Serrão / ARTIS – Institute of Art History of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Lisbon

Collection: Heritage
Year of publication: 2020
Editor: SCML
ISBN: 9789899021242