This project aims to present an initiative for cultural and territorial recovery through design, which is in project implementation with the Politecnico di Torino, Course of Study in Design, and Minas Gerais State University - UEMG, through the Centre for Studies, Theory, Culture and Design Research, School of Design in a action of CMD - Center Minas Design. The project involves students from two universities using resources and tools for training distance between the regions of Minas Gerais - Brazil and Piedmont. The main focus of research is to apply the design to enhance cultural assets and land, promoting the interaction between both institutions and students of Industrial Design at first level, which will relate to each other in design and culture.
The territorial and cultural assets presented here is the Estrada Real (“Royal Road”), a road built by the Portuguese during colonial rule, with the purpose of connecting the diamond and gold mines to the sea, with a course of 1600km across three regions (Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo).
The project focuses on the link territory-sustainable development-design, specifically within the territory of Minas Gerais, which could provide an original contribution to the various actions already affecting today's the interest of Estrada Real.
The Project is considered an experimental model for the development and enhancement of cultural and territorial, especially in marketing-territorial confrontation, based primarily on tourism and economic development potential of which is estimated by the Government of Minas Gerais in 1.25 billion dollars and 2.5 million tourists/year. The study will also include training activities and cultural project enabled not only to Brazilians but also for the Italian and Brazilian communities.
Students and tutors/teachers will be involved in an action-oriented design to support the sustainable for territorial marketing in certain specified places of interest along the territory contained in the Estrada Real, within the State of Minas Gerais. The main expected results are: a) applying the perspective of design in improving the territory, through the development of research and analysis of elements of identity; b) the development of product designs and services based on the territory resources and sustainable profile development; c) the exchange of knowledge and experience, through the interaction between the institutions involved in the project.
