SPATIAL ACTS
In our global urbanization, SPATIAL ACTS explores urban respect in a case-study of Brazil. In megacities Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, an estimated 1/3 of the population lives in informal settlements. Simultaneously hundred of buildings and plots in the city centres are vacant; a severe condition of disrespect – physically, socially and economically. In this context, where the living and housing conditions are on the verge of collapsing, SPATIAL ACTS creates social coherency, hence respect. In the centre lies vacant, imaginary EdificioX. Planned as a luxurious hotel and with a history of several occupations and violent evictions. With a strategy inspired by theatre – a cross-class, common phenomenon – we are creating a respectful dialogue; redistributing the recourses, the urban actors and spectators. We ask whom the city is for and who has the right and space to act?
Our proposal uses the existing building’s qualities and small, wisely managed means from the state’s ZEIS-program to create new social housing. The ground floors are reinforced as public space, a loose inner streetscape. Passing through the new street, the visitor will meet different informal stages, exploring the relation to the city. Accommodations are centred around elevated "street scenes", all meeting points for human movements. The existing staircase is removed and in this created void all communication is found, joining both actors and spectators in an open, equal relationship and creating a shared space open for action. The design is made simple and direct, manifesting the space. As a mediator between the public/common/shared and the apartments, there is an interface zone; a performative layer, closely connecting to the community and shared social respect.
As simple as a re-invention of space, our scalable and repeatable SPATIAL ACT proposes a possible development for urban settlers, improving the ground for social coherency and, with that, shared respect.
Project realized as collaboration between Karl Lindstrand (illustrator and architect student) and Alexandra Rosengren (architect student). The project started within the sustainability studio in KTH – Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, and has then been developed further. Alexandra and Karl spent three weeks in Brazil in March and Alexandra will go back to continue to study Sao Paulo in her thesis this autumn.
