ABOUT FAVELissues
FAVELissues is a collaborative blog analyzing urban informality on a global scale. With such an interdisciplinary team composed of sociologists, architects, planners, economists, political scientists, academics and practitioners, and such an international body (US, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, India, South Africa and Egypt amongst others) FAVELissues is sure to bring multiple perspectives – bridging both theory and practice- to discussions of city growth, development, and sustainability.
Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro
CONTEXT
New economic processes and forms of urbanization are apparent in today’s society. With over half of the world’s population now urban, and a great percentage of the urbanization happening informally, the discourse of globalization and the global city can no longer exclude and is no longer separate from the informal one.
How should we manage urban growth, acknowledging that a large percentage of it lies in the realm of the favela? How should we balance the growing urban population, the rights for shelter and rights to the city, with the aims of environmental management and a more inclusive and equitable urbanism and development?
ORIGINS
FAVELissues began as a reflection of Adriana’s observations and research during her 2010 travel fellowship. Today, the blog has transformed into an open forum for discussions addressing urban informality, urban upgrading and city development.
SUBMISSIONS :: GUEST POSTS
The strength of the blog lies in its ability to bridge between borders, disciplines and practices, making it an active platform for discussion. You are invited to participate in FAVELissues by providing comments and suggestions, or even submitting a guest entry.
CONTACT INFO
FAVELissues wants to hear from you!
If you need to get in touch with a specific writer, you can leave comments under specific post threads.
FAVELissues welcomes guest posts related to urban informality and urban upgrading from contributors of all backgrounds and geographic locations. For general suggestions, comments, or if you are interested in being a guest writer, please contact us at info@FAVELissues.com
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Sounds exciting, good luck.
Hi Adriana! Your project looks very interesting. I also have a an interest in Brazilian favelas in terms of organized crime/violence. I found your blog through a random Google search and I’m glad I did. I am visiting a friend in Rio next month and was interested in taking a favela tour, however the one tour website I found said that the cost was 100R$. Your last post said that yours was around 60R$ correct? Would you mind sharing the company name and information so I can look into it as well? Thank you so much and good luck with your thesis!
Hi Cas,
Thank you for your comment. Of course I don’t mind helping you out.
I did my Favela Tour in Rocinha with Exotic Tours. I also know that there is another company that charges about the same price called “Be a local”. They both have websites…. I would probably recommend trying to call them to make a reservation and establish a price.
On a side note, I recommend that you visit one of the UPP favelas- Santa Marta is the one that I visited, this being the first favela to be liberated… For any favela, try talking to someone in the POUSO (in the case of Santa Marta, it is very accessible, located at the entrance/bottom of the favela- others might be a little more difficult since they are located in the interior of the favela) to see if they can help you out with a visit.
Best of luck!
Adriana
PS: Let me know a little more about your interests… are you conducting specific research in this regard?
Your website rocks! Thank you so much for sharing all of this information. I’m currently working on a project for Sao Paulo favelas. You have great maps on your site, which have been really helpful. Do you have any GIS datasets for Sao Paulo by chance?
Thank you so much,
Val
Hi Val,
Thanks for the comments. Are you working on Paraisopolis?
Unfortunately I don’t have too much GIS data for Sao Paulo- I am sure that the municipality does so you should try contacting them!
Best of luck! Adri
Hi Adri,
I like what I read so far on your content and exploration of how urban areas in latin america have evolved; you could easily connect your studies to certain areas of urban economics, certainly with how transit + density affect growth of neighborhoods and regions, and what attracts people to locate there. Until then, I look forward to hearing/seeing more of your work.
(Hint: We used to work in the same office awhile back. 😉 )
hi Adriana,
Congratulation for winning this prestigious award. I like your approaches to tackle the subject of research.
Best of wishes for your trips.
TL
Hey Adri! So sorry to have missed you when you were in Berkeley last month. Your research and documentation presented via the favella chic website is very impressive. Nice work! Are you still in Lima? Be sure to visit the top of San Cristobal if you haven’t already. Are you going to be back in California before going to Asia?
Hi Adriana,
I’m one the editors of LatinArt.com, a journal on public art practices in the Americas. I’m also the co-curator of the upcoming MDE11 in Medellin, an art biennial that focuses on the city. LatinArt is publishing an interview with Carlos Uribe, the director the Centro Cultural Moravia. I would love to publish some of your photos on the site, with full credits, of course. We’re a non-profit so we can’t pay you but would appreciate showing your work in this venue. Please let me know what you think.
Cheers,
-Bill Kelley, Jr.
Hi Adriana,
I am undertaking a similar study to you, although not in as much detail and would love to discuss some ideas with you. I am in Rio for the next 10 days and I am currently stayin in Botafogo. Any chance we could meet up for a drink and discuss this further.
I look forward to hearing from you
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
I am no longer in Rio- but will be returning late November if you are going to be around. If you give me specific questions, I might be able to help you out in your research these next 10 days….
Best,
Adriana
Adriana,
what a positive surprise to find your blog. I am a Brazilian architect teachiung at UT Austin and would love to show you what is going on in Brazil beyond Rio and São Paulo. fernandoluizlara@gmail.com
Hi there
Im witing reasearch proposals which involve urban informalities and basically my proposal addresses similar question to yours which is how to integrate the informal sector to the formal sector to develop social, economic and sustainable solutions. So basically can the infromal intergrate and become part of the formal city to develop the urban infasturucture of a city?
My other proposal questions that: is informality developing a new paradigm for designers that need to be considered. Is urban infomality developing a new paradigm theoretically that designers need to consider in the design process?
If you have any info or references I should look at please let me know. Would be much appreciated.
Kind Regards
Ankit
Hi Ankit,
You can find some references and bibliography in the actual proposal. Once you have more specific questions, let me know and we;ll chat!
Best of luck and keep in touch,
Adriana
Hi Adria
I am currently working on my thesis project which addresses the question of can the infromal intergrate and become part of the formal city to develop the urban infasturucture of a city and also how to integrate the informal sector to the formal sector to develop social, economic and sustainable solutions.
I live in Wellington, New Zealand and basically I am looking at the city and have chosen a few sites within the city where some informal activities are occurring within the formal infrastructure. But I now need to map the informality so just wanted to know do you have any suggestions on how I could map the informal activities or uses within the sites perhaps over time and develop some spatial relationships or correlations? Any mapping techniques that could be helpful in mapping the informal activities or how people use the space.
If you could email me on ankitsurti@hotmail.com would be much appreciated and we could discuss further.
Kind Regds
Ankit
Hi Adriana,
Your blog is awesome and very interesting!
I am putting together a research proposal on self-organisation and adaptive design of informal settlements in the Pacific island Countries. The socio-cultural aspects are indeed important to consider while studying urban informality, especially in region like Melanesia with rural migrants coming from very different ethnic (linguistic) and cultural background. I wanted to have a look at your research proposal, which I believe is somewhere on the site as you mentioned it when replying to Ankit… but I can’t find it ??? Could you please open my eyes?
Thank you so much and keep up the good work.
Best
Tom
hi Adriana
I am a student in post graduation architecture& environment at Paris and I am working on the fragmented city, Rio de Janeiro.
Rio de Janeiro is a fragmented city, with different cities, those coexisting without living together (the rich city as the Asphalt and the poor city as the Morros).
To regenerate the Carioca urban space, I am particularly interested in the informal city, the Favela, in its environment and its boundaries between city and nature … through urban projects of different scales (Macro, Intermediate, Micro), with an interdisciplinary approach which takes into account: environmental, social, urban, economic … these timely interventions can thoroughly change the city and cure its ills.
For this purpose, I’m in Rio de Janeiro between 18 November and 01 December 2010, I would like to contact you, so we can schedule a meeting, and discuss about the problem of Favelas in the Carioca urban space …
I am looking forward to meeting you in Rio de Janeiro.
Best regards
Salut Sophia,
How are you? As a general thought, I think it is an interesting topic, and I am glad that you will be able to visit some of the favelas because I think that looking more closely at them, you’ll begin to challenge this dichotomy and duality of “favela” and “asfalto” that you are giving the city (my last post on Cairo can expand on this). Also, it’s good that you are looking at different scales- not only focusing on projects but on their impact within the favela, the surrounding area and the city in general…
Unfortunately I am no longer in Rio and won’t be able to travel back this year. I would still be interested in knowing your thoughts and exchanging ideas but for obvious reasons, won’t be able to meet with you. Keep in touch and best of luck in your research!
Adriana
Dear Adriana
your work sounds really interesting and congratulations on the award. I am also doing a piece of international research sponsored by the Norfolk Trust in the UK where we are looking at how different countries plan and develop new communities. We are comparing and contrasting new settlements in Asia, Europe and South America. It might be interesting to compare notes at some point. We are going to be in Brazil/Venezuela in the next couple of weeks visiting Sao Paulo, Curituba and Caracas. I iwould be interested to know whether you’ve read anything particularly good on these examples what we should look at whilst we are there or if you know anyone that we should contact to find out more
Best wishes
Sarah
Just bumped into your blog because looking for pictures of Hong Kong rooftop squatters… nice work… I will come back here… My Brazilian favella tours were in 1980 nad at that time – maybe also now when you know circumstances- I walked through many of them… the worst were in bele Horizinte… one ugly hill with shit and urine dripping along… while other favellas showed the regular build up of almost gentrified houses in the lower regions and the biggest problems in the new high up settlements. I have been part of the eraliest beginning of the Dutch squatters movement so at a certain moment (Habitat was that 1974 or 76 … we also had many international contacts.
Hey Adriana, I really like the information on your site and your project is very interesting. I am wondering if you have already been to buenos aires yet or not? I’m going to be making a documentary there in the villas and I could show you around some of them or help you find someone who can if you need help with that.
If you have already been there I would be interested to hear your thoughts about the differences between the villas and the favelas in brazil.
thanks!
Your work about housing and urban planning prompted me to contact you about internship in your office. Your portfolio is very appealing. I am particularly interested in your project about Housing. In November of this year I just graduated with honors in Architecture at University La Sapienza from Rome, Faculty of Architecture Valle Giulia. My thesis is about a urban generation in Villa 21.24, the biggest slum (urban Village) of Buenos Aires. Last year I receveid a scholarship to develop my thesis abroad from my university.
In addition to the knowledge I’ve obtained from my education, in my experience as an volunteer in the slum, to do plastic model of the shantytown and house-needs brief and to meet the community to understand land issues throught scheduled visits, I learn the practice of the community design project.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to speaking with you.
Hi Adriana,
I am beginner film- maker and am currently doing some work for a documentary company in London. I was really interested in the projects taking place in the favelas, especially favela culture and art (Favela Painting and the JR project). Your project seems really interesting, and I think is a real eye opener to some of the problems maintaining the poor and rich division in the city. I would like to know if you are planning on starting new projects similar to this one?
Hi Desi,
Thanks for the note. The research Favela Chic and the blog FAVELissues are projects that will very much continue- To be honest, they are only just beginning…
Adriana,
Apologies for the late reply. Do you think you can send me a short email on the current projects taking place in Brazil, that you know of. Also I want to tell you a bit about my project as it is closely related to the work you’re doing. My email is d.kadra89@gmail.com
Thanks
Desi
Greetings Adriana,
I am working on a project that would involve observing the changes that Rio will go through over the next few years. I really want to contact social agencies in Rio that are helping to improve the Favelas. Are there any that you can recommend looking into?
Hi Tia,
As a starting point, a great source is the UFRJ ( the Federal University in Rio)- the faculty and students are very involved and linked to other organizations. You could also try the Rio Prefeitura… There are various organizations but it truly depends what your focus is….
Good luck!
you rock cuz.
Hello Adriana:
I came across your work on archinet, and would like to say it has been very inspiring, I have been interested with issues of informality, and marginal citizens/non-citizens and migrant communities, and have now turned my vision to Latin America. Considering the vast number of student projects being produced in Universities all over Europe/US on this subject, your research has gone a step further towards the understanding of other forms of development in the world, not longer classifiable as “third world.” I am looking forward to reading more. Thanks.
Hi Aida,
Thank you for the note. It is always nice to find others with similar interests…. I am hoping to update and expand the blog soon, so do keep posted!
Best,
Adriana
I worked in Pajarito doing the desing and preaproval stages of the buildings you visited. It was good to see all of those pictures bacause I moved out of the country before the buildings were done.
Any way I just wanted to say that your job is amazing! your entire blog is incredible!
Congratulations!
Hola Carolina,
Thank you for the comment. I am hoping to return to Colombia in the summer months (June, July, August) and will visit Pajarito again. There are many changes and new constructions going on in the area. It is also interesting that a new PUI and prison are being planned in the vicinity….
I would love to hear a little about the design process you underwent in Pajarito- the constrains, parameters, standards, examples/models that you follow or were submitted to…So, if you get a chance, please do expand on your experience!!
Best,
Adriana
Hi Adriana
havent heard back fro you yet.
I am currently working on my thesis project which addresses the question of can the infromal intergrate and become part of the formal city to develop the urban infasturucture of a city and also how to integrate the informal sector to the formal sector to develop social, economic and sustainable solutions.
I live in Wellington, New Zealand and basically I am looking at the city and have chosen a few sites within the city where some informal activities are occurring within the formal infrastructure. But I now need to map the informality so just wanted to know do you have any suggestions on how I could map the informal activities or uses within the sites perhaps over time and develop some spatial relationships or correlations? Any mapping techniques that could be helpful in mapping the informal activities or how people use the space.
If you could email me on ankitsurti@hotmail.com would be much appreciated and we could discuss further.
Kind Regds
Ankit
Adriana,
I’ve enjoyed reading your blog and keeping up with your travels.
I received a traveling fellowship and am actually doing a bit of the same research, visiting Port-au-Prince, Caracas, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo this summer. I’d love to talk with you about your experiences and get your thoughts and advice. I’m particularly interested in your “toolkit”–the ways in which you evaluated the barrios/favelas and your retrospect.
I believe there is considerable merit in the nonformal/improvised cities and hope to immerse myself in understanding how they might influence formal perspective.
Would you contact me? I’d very much appreciate it.
Ben
Architecture ’11
Oklahoma State University
ben.stukenborg@gmail.com
skype: benstukenborg
Hi Adriana,
My name is Claire Evans and I’m a 4th year finishing up my thesis in CED at UC Berkeley (go bears!).
I had a couple questions I wanted to ask you about Morro da Providência in Rio de Janeiro, but I can’t find your email on the blog or on the UC Berkeley directory.
Any chance you could post it here or email me please (clairemevans@gmail.com)?
My research looks at the use of sustainability narratives to legitimize the mega-event projects as they affect the communidades.
Many thanks and a great blog!
Claire
Hi Claire,
Feel free to post your questions here- I will be happy to answer them and help you out if I can.
On a side note, there is an Masters Student in Urban Design who’s thesis is related to Rio’s Olympic Games- his name is Maulik Bansal- he should be an interesting person to talk to. Look him up in the directory-if you can’t find his contact, let me know and I will find it for you.
Best and looking forward to your questions,
Adriana
Hi Adriana,
Love your website! I am Ph.D. candidate in anthropology at the University of Chicago and also do similar work with favelas. I recently looked at your project proposal–very impressive!–and loved your opening quote in which you cite Lefebvre. Would you mind sharing the exact source (page number) so that I can use it in my work? Thank you!
Writing Up In Rio
purepecha@gmail.com
Hello Adriana,
The blog’s wonderful, and I’m pretty sure you’re sick of answering queries by now, but, if you could help me out, I’d appreciate it.
I’m a final year B.Arch student in New Delhi, India. For my thesis, I’m looking at uplifting marginalised spaces in the city. I’ve got a framework pretty similar to yours, but, your nomenclature sounds much better than mine; so, I was wondering if I could borrow it, I’d give you full credit for it, of course.
Also, would you mind, if I keep asking questions now and then?
Keep up the good work and I hope the thesis is going well.
Regards,
Sambit
sambitsamant@gmail.com
Ei Adriana, nos conhecemos no Rio de Janeiro no final de 2010. Estamos agora montando uma exposição e seminário sobre as experiências em 4 cidades de urbanização de favelas, Rio, São Paulo, Bogotá e Medellin. Preciso do seu email, atenciosamente
Pedro da Luz Moreira
Vice-presidente IAB-RJ
Coordenador do programa Morar carioca pelo IAB-RJ
Professor Adjunto da EAU-UFF
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