The presentation of Violeta Joana Barros with the suggestion to make the protected zone a green zone, was interesting,. Though I doubt if this proposal would work like presented. The green zone all the way on the coast doesn’t look like the most original idea to solve the problem, but just one of the obvious solutions.
Afterwards we went to the Informal settlement, Favela, Cantinho de Céu, and the proposed green zone. I was so impressed to see how big the contrast is between the city center and this part of São Paulo. The houses didn’t look that bad and the streets where wide and good.
The bigger the contrast got when we went to the shopping mall. This wasn’t one of the shopping malls as we know in the Netherlands. The defenition“public space” can not be used for this building. It was a closed community mall which only can be entered with a car after a strict security check.
We went to one of the biggest informal settlements of São Paulo, Paraisapolis. The more we got closer the more I got shocked. I expected it to be like I saw on pictures, though the reality is even harder. When we entered the narrow streets and started walking, the shock disappeared and I started to see more details. The people we met on street were cautious but friendly. In the center we could see more of the daily life in Paraisopolis.
The social housing project we visited late in the afternoon was interesting to see. Here we could see a good initiative to solve informal housing. The apartments were small but relative good for the price. We got to see two examples of the apartments. The inhabitants were really happy with this ‘opportunity’ as they called it theirselfs.
Unlike the Formal settlement which we visited the first two days, on the third day we visited one of the ‘rich’ neighbourhoods, Alpha Ville. Again the shock was big but didn’t turn into something positive. To enter this neighbourhood we had to pass gates like if it was customs. The streets were empty and the environment was unlike the Favelas cold.
Every step we made was registered. The huge park was beautiful to see, though it looked abandoned.
We also went to Conjunto National on which we had a real good view to São Paulo city.
Day 4, Thursday 09-04-2009 Lectures at SEHAB, visit to Praça José Luis de Mello Malhei
Lectures where not that interesting, though very interactive. The whole group had a lot of comment on the lectures. Also the proposal/plan as shown didn’t impress me. I don’t think the solution is just removing existing housing, putting a few new blocks, and making a public space. The problem of informal housing needs more attention and a lot of analyses.
Afterwards we visited the streets of Estudantes. Estudantes is for me an impressive good ‘hotspot’ to revitalize. This part of the city is important, but with the years it has lost its value. I believe there’s a lot of potential in this area.
From the streets of Estudantes we crossed the street to go to the viaduct. Here we visited the area of the homeless. I was surprised how well this part under the viaduct is maintained. The use of the public space by a group of people made the space a place for them.
The bigger the contrast got when we went to the shopping mall. This wasn’t one of the shopping malls as we know in the Netherlands. The defenition“public space” can not be used for this building. It was a closed community mall which only can be entered with a car after a strict security check.
Day 2, tuesday 07-04-2009 Paraisopolis, Social Housing project
We went to one of the biggest informal settlements of São Paulo, Paraisapolis. The more we got closer the more I got shocked. I expected it to be like I saw on pictures, though the reality is even harder. When we entered the narrow streets and started walking, the shock disappeared and I started to see more details. The people we met on street were cautious but friendly. In the center we could see more of the daily life in Paraisopolis.
The social housing project we visited late in the afternoon was interesting to see. Here we could see a good initiative to solve informal housing. The apartments were small but relative good for the price. We got to see two examples of the apartments. The inhabitants were really happy with this ‘opportunity’ as they called it theirselfs.Day 3, Wednesday 08-04-2009 Alpha Ville, Conjunto National
Unlike the Formal settlement which we visited the first two days, on the third day we visited one of the ‘rich’ neighbourhoods, Alpha Ville. Again the shock was big but didn’t turn into something positive. To enter this neighbourhood we had to pass gates like if it was customs. The streets were empty and the environment was unlike the Favelas cold.
Every step we made was registered. The huge park was beautiful to see, though it looked abandoned.
We also went to Conjunto National on which we had a real good view to São Paulo city.
Day 4, Thursday 09-04-2009 Lectures at SEHAB, visit to Praça José Luis de Mello Malhei
Lectures where not that interesting, though very interactive. The whole group had a lot of comment on the lectures. Also the proposal/plan as shown didn’t impress me. I don’t think the solution is just removing existing housing, putting a few new blocks, and making a public space. The problem of informal housing needs more attention and a lot of analyses.
Afterwards we visited the streets of Estudantes. Estudantes is for me an impressive good ‘hotspot’ to revitalize. This part of the city is important, but with the years it has lost its value. I believe there’s a lot of potential in this area.
From the streets of Estudantes we crossed the street to go to the viaduct. Here we visited the area of the homeless. I was surprised how well this part under the viaduct is maintained. The use of the public space by a group of people made the space a place for them.
The other side of the viaduct is a company that collects and sorts waste to recycle. Here the people where happy with the work they’re doing, though the space created to make working possible doesn’t look really nice. I believe that the space is good used as it is now, but the potentials of this area is rather more then function as a waste sorting area.
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