The formation of the urban space of Conselheiro Lafaiete, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

This paper analyzes the space of the Brazilian municipality of Conlheiro Lafaiete, as a medium- sized city, in the period between 1970 and 2018. The research has a descriptive-exploratory character and was divided into five stages: theoretical basis, case study, document analysis, cartographic production and interviews. We found that the process of urban expansion in Conselheiro Lafaiete is marked by its consolidation as a service and commerce center in the region, with a strong presence in the real estate and civil construction sectors. However, there is no effective application of urban legislation; planning and supervision of the occupation of urban space become inefficient and give rise to spontaneous and disorderly growth. The consequences of these transformations reflect directly on the intra-urban space and on the phenomena linked to the modification of these spaces.