Sambinha Architecture and the Latent World

They say that architecture brings out attributes of the world that may have gone unexpressed or unnoticed in its absence. Sometimes intentionally sometimes unintentionally, and sometimes subconsciously, designers and builders that we are, we define and redefine the world we live in. In expressing the latent world, the architecture and its makers are participating in the process of creating and influencing a new world, one that would not have existed at all if the architecture itself had never existed. In profound ways, we humans are always in complex and reciprocal relationships with the fluid world around us, the world that would exist without us and the world that exists only after we’ve influenced it.

Below are examples of Sambinha Architecture. Consider what the architecture expresses about the world, the forces that formed it, and then the forces that the architectural world exerts. I’m not much of a photographer, but hopefully that won’t detract too much. Enjoy.  

Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro

Laje do Centro Comunitário, Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro

Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro

Community Center, Rua 1, Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro

Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro

Flying kites under Two Brother Mountain, Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro

Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro

Cantagalo, Rio de Janeiro

Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro

Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro

Largo do Boiadeiro, Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro

Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro

Santa Marta, Rio de Janeiro

Corcovado Mountain and Santa Marta, Rio de Janeiro

Travessa da Cátia, Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro

Estrada da Gávea, Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro

Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro

Pavão-Pavãozinho from Sá Ferreira Street, Copacabana