Socio-Urban Integration and The Brazilian Uprising

When news of the Brazilian protests of began trickling northward, my first thought was of the bajillion times I had Continue reading →

The Old Gang in the “New” Neighborhood

In 1995 and 1996 I lived in Sao Paulo, Brazil while doing fieldwork and research for my Masters of Architecture 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 Continue reading →

Economic Efficiency or Urban Quality of Life?

“Paving Streets for the Poor: Experimental Analysis of Infrastructure Effects” is an economics paper published last month by Marco Gonzalez-Navarro Continue reading →

In/Outside the Ferinha da Madrugada

What follows is a series of captioned images that attempts to succinctly describe the complicated relationship between the street vendors Continue reading →

Another Periphery II

In my last entry Another Periphery I introduced Igaraí, a rural farming town in the state of São Paulo and Continue reading →

Another Periphery

São Paulo, Narobi, Lagos, Mexico City, Cairo, New Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, Mumbai, Caracas – Megacities. Through the various stories, Continue reading →

“Informal” Designers, Part 2

My last post looked at stair design in favelas in São Paulo, Brazil, and how spatial constraint, material availability, and Continue reading →