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Urban Changes Under Reclamation
填海工程中的城市變化

As time goes, Macao's demand for land resources continues to expand. As a small island, reclamation was the best way for the people at that time to develop. According to the data, after 1840, the Portuguese government began to take control of Macao due to the decline of the Qing government. In order to achieve further development, the Portuguese colonists started reclamation projects in 1863.

隨著時代的發展,澳門對土地資源的需求不斷擴大。作為一個小島,填海造陸是當時人們發展的最佳途徑。據資料顯示,1840年後,由於清政府的衰落,葡萄牙政府逐漸開始控制澳門。為了進一步發展,葡萄牙殖民者在1863年開始了填海工程。

   

 The earliest reclamation project started near Ilha Verde. At that time, due to technical limitations, the original "hard reclamation" skill was adopted. Such reclamation technology has caused irreversible damage to Macao's water system. At the same time, it has also caused the loss of Macao's ecosystem and a sharp decline in biodiversity. Even though people have long been aware of the hazards caused by reclamation, they have not yet found a way to completely solve the environmental hazards caused by reclamation in Macao.

最早的填海工程開始於青洲附近。當時,由於技術上的限制,採用了原始的 "硬質填海"技術。這種填海技術對澳門的水系統造成了不可逆轉的破壞。同時,它也造成了澳門生態系統的損失和生物多樣性的急劇下降。儘管人們早已意識到填海造成的危害,但仍未找到徹底解決澳門填海造成的環境危害的方法。

 As the first area reclaimed in Macao, Ilha Verde is of great importance. Before the reclamation, Ilha Verde was a small island at the edge of Macao, and after the reclamation, it was connected to the main island of Macao. After years of reclamation, Ilha Verde gradually became part of the Macao main island. After the introduction of the waterworks, the first waterworks in Macao was opened in Ilha Verde, which slowly solved the problem of the lack of freshwater resources in Macao.

青洲作為澳門第一個填海的地區,具有非常重要意義。未填海前的青洲是一個在澳門邊緣的小島,填海後,青洲和澳門本島連接在了一起。經過逐年的填海後,青洲漸漸變成了澳門本島的一部分。自來水廠引進後,澳門的第一個自來水廠便開設在青洲,慢慢解決了澳門的淡水資源缺乏問題。

The expansion of the reclamation area was accompanied by ecological changes, and in this case, the Macao government took advantage of the increased area to carry out ecologically beneficial planning and to improve the quality of life of Macao residents as much as possible. For example, Macao has opened up reservoirs as a source of freshwater. Such a plan reflects the determination of the Macao government to cope with ecological changes.Today the reservoir has remained as it was, but has only changed its use from a practical district plan to a landscape project to serve the residents of Macao.

填海區域的擴大帶來了生態環境的變化,在這樣的情況下,澳門政府借助著增加的面積進行一些有利於生態環境的規劃,並且盡可能得改善澳門居民的生活品質。例如澳門開闢了水塘作為淡水的來源。這樣的規劃,體現了澳門政府應對生態環境變化的決心。如今的水塘保持了原來的樣子,只是改變了其用途,從一個實用的地區規劃,變為了為澳門居民服務的景觀工程。

After the reclamation area is gradually completed, some original coastal areas face changes. Nowadays, there are many inland roads named after port terminals or water elements in Macao. These preserved names represent that this place was originally a seaside before reclamation. Due to reclamation and other reasons, it can no longer be used for its previous purpose. Therefore, the local people use their wisdom to change the original function and develop new uses. Some areas have promoted the urban development of Macao, and some areas have made great contributions to the ecological resilience of Macao. For example, the Baía do Mastro street was initially used as a shelter. But as time passed, the pond was filled in and turned into a gathering place for craftsmen. Some of the older handicraft stores can still be found in the area.

在填海區逐步完成後,一些原有的沿海地區面臨著改變。如今的澳門有許多內陸的街道以港口碼頭或水元素命名。這些保留下來的名字代表著這個地方在填海之前原本是海濱,由於填海和其他原因,它不能再延續以前的用途。因此,當地人用他們的智慧改變了原來的功能,開發新的用途。有些地方促進了澳門的城市發展,而有些地方為澳門的生態系統恢復做出了巨大貢獻。例如爐石塘街,在最初被作為一個避風塘使用。但是隨著時間的流逝,爐石塘被填平,併且變為一個手工業從業者的聚集區。現在的爐石塘還能看到一些較為古老的手工業商鋪。

Source: Yu Zhiyi   來源:虞智轶

Resources:

Zhao, Y. Q. (2018). Study on the evolution of the development of the Portuguese city fringe 

zone in the Macau Peninsula. 

 

Zheng, J, Y. (2017). A study on the evolution of urban morphology of Macau's inner harbor.

 

Zheng, J.Y., Li, J., Liu, Z., & Fei, Y. Q. (2018). Urban regeneration of Macau's inner 

harbor waterfront based on a functional wetland reclamation model. Chinese Garden, 34(7), 91-97.

By YU ZHIYI, STEVEN

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