Generating support for urban remediation

  • 1 / 9

    Science and technology journalists from Swiss newspapers, magazines, journals, radio, television and online media were introduced to the Urban remediation and civic infrastructure hub by Associate Partner Wagner Rebehy (center) from project architects Urban-Think Tank (U-TT) on behalf of Principal Architects Alfredo Brillembourg and Hubert Klumpner. Photo: Diego Brito.

  • 2 / 9

    Members of the Swiss Association of Science Journalism visited the Paraisópolis favela in São Paulo where the project is to be constructed. With more than 100,000 inhabitants, it is one of the largest informal communities worldwide. Brazil and Switzerland signed a bilateral agreement on cooperation in science and technology in 2009, which includes promoting exchanges between researchers and joint research projects. Photo: Diego Brito.

  • 3 / 9

    The planned site for the Urban remediation and civic infrastructure hub where the key challenges of the site are to be addressed through geological, architectural and social elements. Photo: Diego Brito.

  • 4 / 9

    An overview of the highly-regarded remediation project was presented in the office of the Paraisópolis residents and trade association by (l-r): Wagner Rebehy, Associate Partner, Urban-Think Tank (U-TT); Maria Tereza Diniz, Parasópolis Project Leader, Secretaria Municipal de Habitação (SEHAB); and Gilson Rodrigues, Leader of the Parasópolis Community. Photo: Diego Brito.

  • 5 / 9

    The journalists saw a rehearsal by the Parasópolis Youth Ballet. The Group will benefit from the project where they will have spaces established and reserved for their activities on a permanent basis. Photo: Diego Brito.

  • 6 / 9

    The delegation was shown the vibrant communities of the favela that would benefit in many ways from the project, and also the necessity of securing political support for the project to move towards implementation. Photo: Diego Brito.

  • 7 / 9

    A walk through the community introduced the journalists to artists including Antônio Ednaldo da Silva (left), a motorcycle mechanic who creates his art from recycled elements of motorcycles. Photo: Diego Brito.

  • 8 / 9

    Antônio Ednaldo da Silva (left), a motorcycle mechanic who creates his art from recycled elements of motorcycles illustrates the latent cultural capital of the favela. Photo: Diego Brito.

  • 9 / 9

    The home of Antenor Clodoaldo Alves Feitosa incorporates more than 26,000 plastic bottles as a structural component of the building. Photo: Diego Brito.

A site visit to the proposed Urban remediation and civic infrastructure hub by a delegation of science and technology journalists from Switzerland continues to build interest and support for the project. The community of the favela are more than aware of the array of benefits the project would provide - and also how necessary it is to secure political support in order to move the project towards implementation.

Last updated: May 17, 2014 São Paulo, Brazil

A site visit to the proposed Urban remediation and civic infrastructure hub by a delegation of journalists from Switzerland continues to build interest and support for the project. The enthusiastic community of the favela are aware of the array of benefits the project would provide - and also the necessity of securing political support for the project to move towards implementation.

An overview of the highly-regarded remediation project was presented in the office of the Paraisópolis residents and trade association by: Gilson Rodrigues, Parasópolis Community Leader;  Maria Tereza Diniz, Parasópolis Project Leader, Secretaria Municipal de Habitação (SEHAB); and Wagner Rebehy, Associate Partner, Urban-Think Tank (U-TT) in São Paulo, representing the project authors. The design by U-TT’s Alfredo Brillembourg and Hubert Klumpner provides social and cultural infrastructure, as well as reducing the risk of erosion and mudslides.

The visit was part of a tour arranged by the Swiss Association of Science Journalism to investigate Brazil’s dynamic development in science and technology, to further dialog between researchers and to evaluate potential scientific fields of collaboration. The group included scientific editors and journalists from leading newspapers, magazines, journals, radio, television and online media.

Following the presentations, the journalists also viewed the proposed site for the multifunctional public building, Grotão – Fábrica de Música in the heart of the Paraisópolis favela of São Paulo. With more than 100,000 inhabitants, it is one of the largest informal communities worldwide. The Urban remediation and civic infrastructure hub takes up the key challenges of the site through geological, architectural and social elements that flourish by building intense community participation.