Presentation & [Social] Communication Skills | Lx Day 337

Seeing an exhibition over the evolution of Lisbon's planning over 2 centuries wasn't a planned but rather a random undertaking: we just entered the open door and asked what it was all about. As written on the leaflet, it was about

aiming to stimulate knowledge and reflection about the excellent and innovative planning instrument used for the rebuilding of [the] Lisbon city centre after the 1755 Earthquake: The 1758 Plano da Baixa - the Plan for Lisbon's Downtown district.

And how did the City Hall aim to 'stimlate' the viewer?, you ask. That's what I've asked myself as well, and decided to step in.
The first bits were not my things, but then here's what the eye and camera cought - the Gaiola [Cage], which happens to be not only the structure deemed as most 'earthquake-proof' back in the reconstruction days, but also one which still exists (!) in Lisbon's downtown and based on which an architectural fashion was built, which tends to "show a bit of the wooden structure by the sides", as I was explained.

Later on, we entered a room demonstrating the various bits of the re-planning spread over the entire floor, with explanations on the walls. Here's what it looked like:
Pretty neat, isn't it?!












We consequently spent the following 15min trying to not only figure out where's our neighbourhood and how had it been designed back in the 18th century, but also whether any of the street names still match the current denominations, etc.

And so, after this [at times, rather interactive] temporary exploration of the city's planning, here's where did the City Hall wanted to bring the viewer - to an exhibition of facts of the status quo of Lisbon's Baixa Plan today, as the title reads. Why? Because the status quo calls for an opinion poll of the ones concerned, i.e. Lisbon's inhabitants; and that's why 4 computers were readily awaiting the visitors' feedback on how to solve the issues of the city's Downtown district. As put by the authorities

250 years [later], the 1758 Plano da Baixa is still with us, in Lisbon,... today! The abandoning or rescue of this plan, its effectiveness and reform are the goal of this exhibition.

This was a pleasant surprise, an informative and well organised exhibition; it made me wish something similar had been in place regarding the Palace of Culture in Iasi and its 'rescue or abandoning'... yet perhaps I'm too optimistic at times?
PS. if interested in more subject-pertinent photos, look here.