We provide support to community organizations that are pursuing an independent pedagogical approach and economic sustainability.
Our goal is to promote and support education in the country through cultural initiatives, sports, leisure activities, the arts, and environmental education.
Architecture for Development
The intense growth of Brazilian cities in the 60s, 70s, especially the city of São Paulo, which faced its transformation from an agrarian city to the largest industrial center in the country in a very short time, and as a result of this demographic boom, brought a liability on issues related to urban planning, not responding to the existing demands of the city. This reality is aggravated by the chronic socioeconomic situation of unemployment, making regions even more vulnerable, family breakdown, domestic violence, early pregnancy, drug use, increased child mortality, chronic health problems, etc.
The campaign to build and expand three spaces in less well-served neighborhoods aims to provide a favorable environment for the development of these local populations, located in the Pantanal community, União de Vila Nova (São Miguel Paulista, east side) – Morumbizinho Community (São Mateus, east side) – Savoyzinho Community (Itaquera, east side)
Why, and how does this work? Non-profit institutions, neighborhood associations and agencies that work with local demands aimed at supporting women, children, young people and the elderly - providing support in the health and education sectors - depend on incentives from companies or public policies - there are projects agreed with the SMADS (municipal secretariat for social assistance and development) such as the CCA (Centre for Children and Adolescents); the UBS (basic health unit) supports basic health needs, the FUMCAD (municipal fund for children and adolescents) which receives donations through the income tax system and transfers donations, the CMDCA (municipal council of rights of children and adolescents) body that controls public policies aimed at children and adolescents. There are also public and private notices that move the third sector with projects aimed at education, culture, sports, etc.
Given this logic, there are ways for these institutions to create their favorable worlds. Any project aimed at social support, whether public or private, requires adequate spaces, and sometimes projects are not approved due to lack of adequacy . A kitchen needs to be ventilated with adequate equipment and coverings, the absence of toilets for children and the disabled, poorly ventilated rooms or lack of accessibility are items that cancel out resource approvals. At the same time, in Brazil, we do not have a private social incentive or public policy focused on civil construction , precisely to design these architectures; and grassroots institutions do not have the economic support to hire a professional, let alone provide an independent construction.
Our objective is to adapt these architectures for development , so that they can operate their activities, courses, conversations, meetings and any other form of event that generate economic return and social impulse with dignity. Each of these small school-institutions already has its own agenda of activities. Thus, with the expansion of spaces we can exponentially increase the possibility of development and reach an even larger number of women, adults, youth and children – promoting the basics in health, education and social well-being . Each of these communities we're supporting has one thing in common: they're strong, independent, creative, smart, and structured in such a way that each has its own uniqueness. In response to this, these architectures were designed specifically for each community, suited to their agendas, their policies, and within the development possibilities of each one.
At the NUA Institute, we are adapting a public area under a viaduct, an open and free space that will consist of a public library, an open-air theater, a sports court, vegetable garden and furniture that will be used for classes and as exhibitors for fairs outdoors. This area is next door, attached to the new art union institute and will be used as an extension of the school, which has been developing a pedagogical project over the years, which aims to expand the concepts of "Popular Teaching", increase capacity and the number of students and continuing with the training of young professionals in the areas of gastronomy, health, sports, education and income generation.
In the Fenix do Morumbizinho Association, we are building next to the current neighborhood association. We created rooms equipped with computers, another two rooms for educators and exclusive support for women, a communal kitchen and the expansion of an open public area. In recent years we have been working with the possibility of developing small social-business companies. In other words, the community kitchen will operate as a small lunchbox company, a product that is widely sold in the periphery and we intend to use the funds raised to financially support the cooks and offer free food to the population; such as the solidarity soup kitchen, a project that is already happening. With computers we will create game rooms (lan-house); another very popular service in the periphery that offers photocopying, games, printing and internet services. Thus, the Fenix project can generate income and support the community, children and young people and local educators. The Association's leaders have strong partners such as Sabesp, the Subprefecture, UBS and private partners.
In the Savoyzinho community, we are in the process of building the first space for community members, called Associação Flores do Carmo. Formed by a group of women who together are part of the support of a portion of the residents; the community is divided into four parts, that is, four groups of leaders who meet together to establish the priorities of the place. This architecture is intended to support the organization as a local society; a place for meetings, to talk about relevant topics in order to seek ways to bring water, sewage and educational support infrastructure into the neighborhood. This architecture intends to be a square with trees around, benches, spaces for children to play and a light architecture that includes a kitchen and a space for food storage, a small room for the UBS (basic health unit) to provide care punctual; and a multipurpose space – NGOs and supporters will carry out activities with children and adolescents - As is the case with the ARÁ project, which has been working in this neighborhood for three years.
The great battles throughout history that for times and still are territorial issues, seeking transformations towards economic strengthening and political positioning, perhaps today, the great crossings are also on the other side of the corner, the achievements are closer than we imagine. It is in people's education and in the understanding of their place as a civil servant in society, civic and social responsibility notions revolve around a simple and the most complex questions: who am I? and what can i do here? Going through concepts that we work for the other, for the collective. Social injustice has developed exponentially and it is our civic role to protect everyone's lives.
The city, as a constructed territory, is already our nature, and our responsibility as citizens. Therefore, on the analysis in optics, the project enables and studies an architectural process as a technology for transferring power, knowledge and economic value. The architecture and urbanization of things is human catharsis and construction of space to create the possibility of this development, social inclusion and equity. In this specific case, it is a two-way opportunity where everyone learns, there is no better; there is a lack of opportunity.
TRAVESSA / ES'TUDIO CRUZ