Upgraded favelas in São Paulo: built environment and appropriation after construction works

• Grant number: 22/15132-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2023
• End date: February 28, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Urban and Regional Planning - Urban and Regional Services
• Principal Investigator: Rosana Denaldi
• Grantee: Rosana Denaldi
• Host Institution: Centro de Engenharia, Modelagem e Ciências Sociais Aplicadas (CECS). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: André Buonani Pasti ; Camila Pereira Saraiva ; Ellen Emerich Carulli ; Guadalupe Maria Jungers Abib de Almeida ; Jeroen Johannes Klink ; Leonardo Rodrigues Pitas Piqui ; Liliana María Sánchez Mazo ; Luciana Nicolau Ferrara ; Melissa Cristina Pereira Graciosa ; Ramya Khare
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/14410-0 - Use and Appropriation of Space in the Heliópolis Favela, BP.TT; 24/13342-1 - Housing Conditions in Heliópolis Favela - Mina Sector., BP.TT; 24/09525-3 - The Independência Stream in Heliópolis: Description of Socioenvironmental Conditions Post-PAC Intervention, BP.TT; + associated scholarships 24/00374-2 - "Heliopolis: Environmental and Urbanistic Features", BP.TT; 24/02246-1 - Residential and real estate development in Heliópolis, BP.TT; 23/14804-6 - Housing Conditions in Heliópolis Favela - Mina Sector., BP.TT; 23/09007-0 - Sapé: Environmental and Urbanistic Feature, BP.TT - associated scholarships

Abstract

This proposal is grounded in studies on the social production of space and urban policies in Brazil. More specifically, it deals with contemporary favelas and policies aimed at their improvement, upgrading, and consolidation. The specific investigation is on favelas after upgrading, that is, the quality of the built environment in favelas and the social appropriation of it by private actors - whether they are residents or not - after the completion of coordinated state interventions. These range from the provision of basic infrastructure for sanitation to housing improvements, mitigation of geotechnical risk, environmental recovery, social infrastructure, and regularization of land tenure. Although some studies have indicated that not all these components are dealt with satisfactorily, there is not much work that provides a systematization of specific experiences in different cities, of how upgrading was implemented in Brazil, and, particularly, of impacts. This proposal is aimed at investigating the dynamics of production and the appropriation of space in slums after upgrading interventions to verify the impacts of regulatory and intervention models that have been implemented over the last decades. This knowledge is considered essential to improve slum upgrading policies. Despite the studies analyzing the solutions given to these components, there are still few systematizations about the quality of the built environment resulting from this type of intervention and, particularly, its environmental and social impacts. This proposal aims to investigate the dynamics of production and appropriation of space in favelas after state-led upgrading interventions, to verify the consistency of regulation and intervention models practiced in recent decades, as well as identify possible necessary adaptations. The methodology of the proposal envisages a revision of the literature and the development of two case studies in São Paulo. This knowledge is fundamental for the improvement of favela upgrading policies. It relies on the assumption that these policies should not be finalized at the time of completion of the works since it has been observed that specific services, regulations, and maintenance are often necessary after the execution of the upgrading projects but rarely done. (AU)