Sambinha Architecture, Technological Entrapment, and the Pioneering Spirit

How informal urbanism affects the way we think about formal urbanism is one of the crucial questions we ask here Continue reading →

Political Titans and Cost of Living

You can hardly throw a digital rock without hitting Brazil-related reporting these days. As big a deal as zika/microcephaly is Continue reading →

Christian Tragni Photojournalism by a Guy

I first talked with Christian Tragni after seeing his photos of young men in Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro with their Continue reading →

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 Continue reading →

Gary Smith: Capturing the Life of Human Streets

I encountered the photographic work of Gary Smith Some years ago through our mutual interest in Favela Rocinha. Since then Continue reading →

Civics & Favelas: Fighting the Good Fight

Life has not become any easier over the past few years for residents of Brazilan favelas. Civic life across Brazil Continue reading →

Working Favelas, Working People

Over the past few days my social media avenues have been bottlenecked with news and commentary on the protests in Brazil Continue reading →

Rio’s Current Crime Spike: Trends and Individuals

Much has been made and is being made of Rio’s post-Pacification upswing in crime, in particular in relation to the Continue reading →