Knowing the Favela

The current paradigm of ‘favela integration’ in Rio de Janeiro requires that the favelas themselves become an object of knowledge. That is, favelas cariocas must be constructed as knowable before Continue reading →

The First 3 Things I Learned: What Were Yours?

Last week I was involved in the penultimate critique for a 4th year design studio. I love participating in critiques for the shear volume of creative outcomes I get exposed Continue reading →

Pacification and 24 Hour Surveillance in Rocinha

The favela pacification process is well under way in Rio’s favelas–the process of reclaiming territory once run by drug gangs such as The Comando Vermelho, Terceiro Comando, and Amigos dos Continue reading →

Happy New Year from the Morro

Just about every American I know who’s been just about anywhere in Latin America baffles about how all the good real estate is the bad real estate. In the US, Continue reading →

“Underground Sociabilities”: new trends in urban social research?

Social psychologists at the London School of Economics partner with Brazilian researchers and challenge us to consider grassroots struggles for social inclusion rather than focus solely on marginality and exclusion. Researchers Continue reading →

New Ecological Park for Rocinha: Public Intervention Worth Bragging About

When I first visited the construction site of the Parque Ecológico da Rocinha I was asked to not share photos since the government entities involved in its planning and construction Continue reading →

Supergraphics Then and Now

A few days ago Adriana invited comments on a video about a project called Philly Painting. According to its website, “Philly Painting is a neighborhood beautification project of unprecedented scale, Continue reading →

Revisiting Complexo do Alemão

The author revisits 13 conjoined favelas, known as Complexo do Alemão, after one year to see how ‘favela integration’ projects are progressing. Last week I had the opportunity to attend Continue reading →

Public Space-Public Investment

It’s summertime where I live. And I get an extra dose of seasonal exuberance from my living room window into East City Park where the family reunions picnic, church groups Continue reading →

Limpa Brasil: Municipal Waste Management Under the Sambinha Influence

Last month I posted on how catadores–people who earn their living by picking through solid waste to glean and resell recyclables–in Brazil set a positive example of how personal thrift Continue reading →

Questions of perspective: research as nation-building

Brazilian academics, once known for their fierce criticism of the state and Brazilian politics, now express tempered optimism. This post explores the dual role of social scientist and nation-builder.  This Continue reading →

The Thrift of Sambinha: Catadores and Waste Mitigation

“Or do without.” That’s the last line of the American axiom, left off of this World War II era poster promoting thriftiness in support of the war effort. It may Continue reading →

Questions of perspective

Lines are being drawn over Rio de Janeiro’s controversial Pacifying Police Units; but are opinions more ideologically informed than they are based on empirical evidence?  Last week I attended a conference about Continue reading →

Sambinha Architecture, Biophysics, and Cheap Energy

To my friends and family who are unfamiliar with my town, I’ve often described it by asking them to picture the US in the pre-interstate highway era. It’d take about Continue reading →

Remaking Rio: favela tourism and the tourist narrative, part III

This is the third and final post in a series about the portrayal of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas through the tourist narrative. I’m interested in the favela tourist experience because Continue reading →

Favela e Futebol V – people’s opium

scene from the movie “Cidade de Deus”, Fernando Meirelles, 2002 In June of 1970 all of Brazil went out to celebrate in the streets. The seleção won its third championship. Continue reading →

Favela and Futebol IV – the golden years

It would take 12 years after the Maracanazo of 1950 for the “mutt complex” to be buried once and for all. After the dramatic loss at home the Seleção changed Continue reading →

Remaking Rio: favela tourism and the tourist narrative, part II

This is part two of a series of posts discussing the representation of favelas in Rio de Janeiro, favela tours and the tourist narrative. In part one I sketched out Continue reading →

Remaking Rio: favela tourism and the tourist narrative: part I

Part one in a three-part series exploring how favela-tourism coincides with  urban renewal and ‘favela integration’ in Rio de Janeiro. The above video shows a new tourist attraction in the famous favela Continue reading →

Favela and Futebol III: 1950′s maracanazo

For the first time since the advent of World War II the soccer world reconvened in Brazil in June, July 1950. With the Maracanã as the larger stadium in the Continue reading →