Participatory Sustainable Infrastructure Planning for Favela Pica-Pau in Rio de Janeiro (report)

Demonstration of Professional Competency06 May 2013

Advisors: Jaime Stein, Alec Appelbaum, Evren UzerTechnical Advisor: David Seiter

FROM OPEN SEWER TO OPEN (RE)SOURCEPARTICIPATORY SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING

FOR FAVELA PICA-PAU IN RIO DE JANEIROLeonel Lima Ponce

candidate, MS in Urban Environmental Systems ManagementPratt Institute Programs for Sustainable Planning and Development

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Leonel Lima PoncePratt Institute PSPD - MS in UESM: Demonstration of Professional Competence, Spring 2013

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From Open Sewer to Open (Re)source: Participatory Sustainable Infrastructure Planning for Favela Pica-Pau in Rio de Janeiro06 May 2013

AcknowledgementsA participatory planning process is nothing without an engaged community. Before anything else, I would like to thank the residents of Pica-Pau for allowing me the privilege of working with them towards a sustainable vision for their community. Special thanks to Irenaldo Honório da Silva for his tireless and swift work in the organization of each activity and workshop, and his dedication to a harmonious relationship between nature and city; to resident Transect Walk guides: Geraldo, Natalia, Paulo, Sebastião, Karolayne, Marissa, and Zilá, as well as interviewees for their invaluable input and abundant energy; to Ministério Semear Church in Brás de Pina for their tremendous hospitality in hosting our workshop, especially at such short notice; and to workshop participants for their willingness to step out of their comfort zone, believe in the participatory process, and fight for a better future for all in their community.

This project could not be realized without the help of Catalytic Communities, specifically Theresa Williamson. Your boundless enthusiasm, incisive input, and intricate network of committed citizens provided critical guidance in this path towards my future career. No workshops would have been conducted had it not been for the inspiring leap of faith of Catherine Osborn, Gloria Jimenez, and Sarah De Rose, who accompanied me in each step of this adventure. Additional thanks to Roseli Franco and CatComm volunteers and interns, who provided tremendous feedback and encouragement throughout my visit to Rio de Janeiro.

I would also like to thank Arqhos for their technical support in Rio de Janeiro, specifically Celso Girafa and Jonas Godinho for their dedication to a participatory design process and willingness to share crucial site documentation.

I want to acknowledge Alec Appelbaum, Evren Uzer, and David Seiter, whose discerning commentary, inspirational insight, and belief in this project directed its growth and continued success, and whose contributions pushed this initiative forward seamlessly in the face of ever-changing conditions. And I cannot forget my fellow faculty and colleagues at Pratt Programs for Sustainable Planning and Development, who inspired me each and every day during my entire graduate studies, and who have, are, and I know will continue to revolutionize our communities and environment.

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to my family and friends, specifically to my parents, my sister Beatriz, and Dane, Benny, Jonathan, Lacey, and Roxanne, who helped me stay afloat and prosper as I redirected my life towards this new and important mission. I can only hope my friendship has provided as much for you as yours have for me.

Finally, I would like to dedicate this work to Jaime Stein, my program coordinator and personal motivator. Your constant guidance and encouragement during the last two years has reshaped me as a professional, an academic, and a human being. Your unwavering support enabled me to take on tremendous challenges at each step of the way, and strive to make a meaningful change in this ever unforgiving world. Your enthusiasm reignited my hope in a sustainable and prosperous future for all, which I take with me on this journey as my guiding belief. I am forever thankful to you.

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ContentsAcknowledgements iii

1. Abstract 7

2. Background 92.1. Favelas in Rio de Janeiro: History 2.2. InfrastructuralDeficitandEnvironmentalImpacts2.3. Cultural, Social, Economic Assets 2.4. Mega-Events,“Pacification,”andRedevelopmentPrograms2.5. SociopoliticalandParticipatoryDeficit

3. Participatory Sustainable Infrastructures: A Response to the Needs of Rio de Janeiro’s Favelas 153.1. CommunityAssetsandBenefits:FixingtheParticipatoryDeficit3.2. NaturalAssetsandBenefits:FixingtheEnvironmentalDeficit3.3. ParticipatoryandSustainableProcess:Co-Benefits

4. Project Client 194.1. Community + Ecosystem = Client 4.2. Identifying a Potential Client: Pica-Pau Favela in Rio de Janeiro 4.3. Client Selection Criteria

5. Participatory Sustainable Infrastructure Planning: Favela Pica-Pau 315.1. Participatory Strategies 5.2. Preliminary Meetings 5.3. Transect Walk 5.4. Community Workshop 5.5. “CityasPlay”5.6. Review of Transect Walks 5.7. Screeningof“FavelaasaSustainableModel”5.8. Sustainable Infrastructures Catalog 5.9. Community Visioning Session 5.10. Preliminary Evaluations & Reassessments

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6. Implementation 496.1. Continuity 6.2. Replicability

7. Bibliography 557.1. References 7.2. Raw Data

Appendices 61AppendixA:VisitandWorkshopAgendaAppendixB:MeetingMinutes,CatCommMeetingsAppendixC:MeetingMinutes,VisittoPica-PauCommunity(23March2013)AppendixD:TransectWalkMaterialsAppendixE:CommunityVisioningWorkshopProducts

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1. Abstract

NourbansettingexemplifiesthecurrentglobalhumanconditionmorethanRiodeJaneiro’sinformalcommunities, or favelas. Self-built and often ignored by government agencies, policies, and services, these communitiesarepredominantlyidentifiedbytheirenvironmentalandsociopoliticalinfrastructuraldeficits.Inno place is this more apparent than in faltering wastewater systems, the subhuman environmental conditions ofwhichareexacerbatedbyalackofvoiceandpoliticalrepresentationwithinthecommunityandareemblematicofthecityandcountry’ssocioeconomicstratification.Yet,theupcoming2014FIFAWorldCupand2016 Olympic Games bring with them an opportunity for transformation, which is coming to favelas through urbanization programs such as Morar Carioca. Still, a problem remains: how can informal communities take ownership of these opportunities?

Inordertoovercometheirprincipalinfrastructuraldeficits,favelasmustleveragetheirenvironmentalandcommunity assets and advance natural systems through participatory processes, which generate Participatory Sustainable Infrastructures that empower communities and enhance ecosystems.

Through my Demonstration of Professional Competency studies, I conducted a series of participatory planning activities with the residents of favela Pica-Pau in Rio de Janeiro. Designed to leverage environmental and communityassets,andtoevaluateandimprovetheprocessitself,themonth-longexcursion,itsprecedingresearch, and analysis of results has reinforced the catalytic potential of this development strategy. Though site specific,theseexplorationsandthelessonslearnedreassertthatbyengagingcitizensandecosystemswitheachotherinthevisioningofacommunity’sfuture,anefficientandholisticframeworkforurbandevelopmentin the 21st century emerges.

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2. Background

Patterns of increased global urbanization, and the resultant rise in precarious urban settlements have exacerbatedexistingtrendstowardssubstandardlivingconditionsforalargesegmentoftheworld’spopulation.Accordingtovariousstudies,themajorityofglobalpopulationnowresidesincities,withaspecifictrend towards urbanization in developing countries1; in Brazil, the urban residents consist of 85% of the total population2. Incoming residents, motivated by a shifting global economy towards services and other traditionally urban sectors, often settle illegally where land is available and cheap, with informal settlements becoming host to the resulting population boom. As of 2012, over 800 million people worldwide were estimated to live in informal settlements around the world3.Theinfluxofmillionsputsadditionalstrainonagingpublicinfrastructure; informal communities are constructed by their own residents, outside of formal infrastructural systems and their functional capacities. As a result, much of the incoming, informal population is not served by public works. In 2008, only an estimated of 61% of people around the globe used improved, sanitary sewage

1 Grimm,NancyB.“GlobalChangeandtheEcologyofCities.”Science319(2008):756-59.Science.AmericanAssociationfortheAdvancement of Science, 8 Feb. 2008. Web. 25 Nov. 2011. <www.sciencemag.org>.2 Magalhães,Sérgio.“MinhaCasaNoPaísDoCarroZero.”OGlobo.N.p.,27Apr.2013.Web.28Apr.2013.<http://oglobo.globo.com/opiniao/minha-casa-no-pais-do-carro-zero-8223777>.3 Jensen,Lois,ed.TheMillenniumDevelopmentGoalsReport2011.Rep.UnitedNations,6July2011.Web.15Apr.2013.<http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/>.

Figure 2.1: A street fair in favela Pica-Pau, in Cordovil

DSC_0399. 2012. Photograph. Album - Visit to Pica-Pau in Cordovil, Rio De Janeiro. Flickr. Comp. Catalytic Communities. Yahoo!, 03 Dec. 2012. Web. 24 Apr. 2013. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/37979985@N05/8243507608/>.

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systems4. As more informal communities continue to emerge and grow, governments of cities such as Rio de Janeiro are left to scramble to remedy the deleterious impact on the quality of life of its constituents, as well as the health of their host environments and natural resources.

2.1. Favelas in Rio de Janeiro: History

Informal settlements, or favelas, have played an intrinsic role in the history and development of Rio de Janeiro cityanditsculture.Rio’sfavelasarewell-knownfortheirtiestothebeginningsofsambaandtraditionalBrazilianCarnavalcelebrations,andhometomanyofthecity’smostfamousculturalfigures.Butfavelasarealsovilified,eveninfeaturefilmssuchas2002’sCityofGod,asthesettingsforRioandBrazil’sinternaldrugwars,hosttodrugtraffickingkingpinsandfociofintenseandviolentbattlesbetweentraffickersandthepolice5. Caughtinthemidstofopportunityandmisery,culturalrichnessandabjectpoverty,favelasexemplifythesocioeconomic and cultural multiplicity of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil.

InBrazil,andspecificallyRiodeJaneiro,favelashavebeenstigmatizedandpushedtotheoutskirtsofsocietyfromtheirgenesisinthelate1800’s.Thefirstfavela,Providência,wasestablishedbysoldiersreturningfromthe Canudos War in the Northeast of the country. They were promised land upon their return to the capital of Rio de Janeiro, but were forced into an agreement with a coonel to squat on a parcel of his land in 1898; soon, they were joined by others seeking available land, such as freed slaves and European immigrants. These underserved demographics concentrated in favelas as they spread throughout the city; their communities were themselves underserved by government, either ignored by policy or evicted when convenient. From 1940 to2000,7millionhomeswerefinancedinsomemannerinBrazil;over28millionunits,however,werebuiltandfinancedbyownersandresidentswithoutanysupportfromgovernmentalinstitutions6. This trend was exemplifiedinRio’sfavelas,whereself-builtdwellingscomprisethemajorityofthehousingstock.Withouttheprovision of affordable housing by market forces, policy decisions by the city did not discourage settlement. Duringthemilitarydictatorshipinthe1970’s,apolicyofdisplacementwasadoptedinearnest,asthepoorand homeless were criminalized and marginalized; increased removals, again, did not resolve the continued demand for affordable housing. In 1988, the federal Brazilian Constitution recognized the rights of favelados, including a clause in the document allowing adverse possession of a home and the land beneath it after 5 years of residence. With no municipal provisions for affordability and a lack economic growth in the city, favelas multipliedrapidlyinthefollowingdecade.Currentestimatesshowover1.4millionpeople,ornearly1/4ofRiodeJaneiro’sresidents,livingininformalsettlementstoday7.

2.2. InfrastructuralDeficitandEnvironmentalImpacts

Informal communities in Rio de Janeiro are typically built by their own residents on illegally acquired, public land. The settled property is not connected to public utility services, and sometimes sited far away from existingsystems.Inordertoacquirebasicservicessuchaswaterandelectricity,faveladosimprovisetheirownconnectionstotheexistinggrid,tappingintoelectricalwiresorwatersupplypipestosupplytheirindividualhomes.Thesetaps,orgatos,exemplifythetenuousbalancebetween“honest”tax-payingcitizens,and“thieves”livinginfavelas;thelatterfrequentlyportrayedasthepublicfaceoffavelas.Littleattentionispaid

4 Jensen, Lois, ed. The Millennium Development Goals Report 2011.5 CityofGod(CidadeDeDeus).Dir.KátiaLundandFernandoMeirelles.O2Filmes,2002.DVD.6 Magalhães,Sérgio.“SobreaDemocratizaçãoDeCidade.AExperiênciaDaPolíticaHabitacionalDoRioDeJaneiro.”Urbanismo:DossiêSãoPaulo-RioDeJaneiro.CampinasandRioDeJaneiro,Brazil:PUC-Campinas/PROURB-UFRJ,2003.113-36.Print.7 Wiliamson,Theresa.“FavelasattheVanguard:RethinkingOurAssumptionsinSustainableDevelopment.”PrattInstitute,Brooklyn,NY.24Oct. 2012. Lecture.

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tothesocioeconomicstratificationandlackofopportunitythathasledtoinformalsettlements,ortothelackofserviceprovisionbythecity’sutilitycompaniesthathasmotivatedtheseimprovisations.PerhapsthemostseriousinfrastructuraldeficitinRio’sfavelasexistsinwastewaterandsanitation.Only76%ofthepopulationof the state of Rio de Janeiro is connected to sewage treatment systems; the problem is most severe in the poorest rural areas, and favelas within Rio de Janeiro municipality. Most favelas are not yet connected to the municipalsewagetreatmentsystem.Residents’illegalwastewaterconnectionscanleadtoamultitudeofopensewers and sewage outfalls at local streams, canals, and other water bodies8.

These infrastructural failures are deeply connected to the ecosystem and climate of Rio de Janeiro. The city isbisectedbyastretchoftheMataAtlântica,atropicalalluvialrainforestandoneoftheworld’sdesignatedbiodiversity hotspots9, within a humid subtropical climate zone10. Historically, favelas were settled at the edges oftheforestandthecity,orinlandfilledhistoricmarshlandsandmangroves,landthatwasperceivedashavinglowvalue.Thesesettlementsencroachupontheexistingecosystemtoprovidelow-qualityhousingstock,creatingamutuallydetrimentalexistence.Thewetsummerseason,particularlyMarch,yieldsignificantrainfalland major weather events11, and favelas usually take the brunt of the ensuing deluge. Positioned on eroding hillsidesinwhatwasonceforest,orinpaved-overwetlandsthatnolongerallowforwaterinfiltration,favelassuffersignificantdamagefromlandslides,powerfulflowsofwater,andfloodingduringthesestorms.Duetothe lack of appropriate physical infrastructure, solid waste and wastewater produced by these communities

8 Cavallieri,Fernando,andSorayaOliveira.AMelhoriaDasCondiçõesDeVidaDeHabitantesDeAssentamentosPrecáriosNoRioDeJaneiro.Issuebriefno.20061202.RioDeJaneiro,Brazil:IPP(RiodeJaneiroCityPlanningDepartment),2006.ColeçãoEstudosCariocas.Web.30Jan.2013.<http://www.armazemdedados.rio.rj.gov.br/arquivos>.9 “AtlanticForest(MataAtlântica).”ConservationInternational.N.p.,n.d.Web.05May2013.<http://www.conservation.org/where/priority_areas/hotspots/south_america/Atlantic-Forest/Pages/default.aspx>.10 “MapaDaÁreaDeAplicaçãoDaLeiN°11.428De2006.”Map.MinistérioDoMeioAmbiente(BrazilianEnvironmentalMinistry).N.p.,2012.Web.20Apr.2013.<http://www.mma.gov.br/images/arquivos/biomas/mata_atlantica/mapa_mata_atlantica_lei_11428_2006_e_decreto6660_2008.pdf>.11 Carneiro, Alcides; Santos, Luca; Miranda, Ricardo. “Série Histórica de Indices Pluvométricos das 32 Estações da Cidadedo Rio de Janeiro, 2000-2010.”IPP(RIodeJaneiroCityPlanningDepartment).RiodeJaneiro,Oct.2012.Web.20Apr.2013.

Figure 2.2: Rio Salgado, in Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone, or Zona Norte. Houses along the bank of the river dump raw sewage directly into its waters.

Do Nascimento, Sizenaldo M. Rio Salgado. 2010. Photograph. Rio De Janeiro. O Globo. 12 Nov. 2010. Web. 22 Feb. 2013. <http://oglobo.globo.com/participe/mat/2010/11/10/rio-salgado-na-zona-norte-do-rio-sofre-com-acumulo-de-lixo-falta-de-cuidado-922995860.asp>.

Figure 2.3: Effluent reaching the Guanabara Bay.

Unknown. N.d. Photograph. Rio De Janeiro. Ambiental Sustentável. 24 Nov. 2011. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. <http://ambientalsustentavel.org/2011/bid-vai-emprestar-us-452-milhoes-para-melhorar-esgoto-na-baia-de-guanabara/>.

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is dispersed back into the environment, causing local and regional public health problems, and the severe pollution and degradation of nearby ecosystems surrounding Guanabara Bay. Federal and local governments have committed to resolving the problem, initiating programs to improve the impact of failing wastewater and sanitation systems on the city. Over US$ 452 million have been loaned from the Inter-American Development Banktoundertakeaninitiativetoincorporate359,000newhouseholdstotheexistingsewagesystem,andthus improve the quality of surrounding water bodies12. Additionally, the state of Rio has vouched to provide improved wastewater systems to 96% of its citizens by the year 203013.

2.3. Cultural,Social,EconomicAssets

Thephysicalpresenceoffavelashas,inmanycases,aggravatedRiodeJaneiro’sinfrastructuralandenvironmental degradation. But these valuable communities have played a key role in the cultural and social heritageofRiodeJaneiroandBrazil.Thecountry’smostidentifiableculturalassetofBrazil,itssambamusicplayed during Carnaval celebrations each year, has deep roots within favelas. Some of the most traditional Samba Schools in Rio de Janeiro, like Mangueira and Salgueiro, were formed along the hillsides of these informal communities14. In recent decades, a musical style called Favela Funk has gained tremendous popularityamongstRiodeJaneiro’syouth.Thoughoriginallybasedonthelivesofdrugtraffickersandothercriminals, the music also offers a snapshot into the struggles of favela residents, giving outsiders a glimpse into daily life of informal communities through stripped-down, danceable beats15.

Culturallyvibrantandsociallyactive,RiodeJaneiro’sfavelasoftenexhibitmoreactivityonitsstreetsthanformalneighborhoodsdo.Mixed-usedevelopmentalonglargerroads,andpedestrian-orientedstreetscreatelow-rise, high density neighborhoods that provide more opportunities for social interactions. Those who work in shops in favelas usually live in the same community, showing a potential for live-work spaces that reduce strain onthecity’stransportationresources.Constantsocialinteractionsleadtosolidarityandcollectiveaction;insome cases, neighbors assist each other on home renovations and improvised public infrastructure repairs16. Local informal economies in favelas generate considerable revenue, especially in large communities. Some ofthelargerfavelas,likeRocinha,arenowdestinationsfornationalandforeignenterprises,suchasBob’s(alocalfastfoodrestaurant),Brasimac(anelectronicsretailstore),andevenMcDonald’s17. The wealth of Rio de Janeiro’sfavelasisnowbeingrecognizedbyoutsidersandthegovernment,butthisattentioncomeswithitsown costs.

12 Campêlo,Gabriela.“BIDVaiEmprestarUS$452MilhõesParaMelhorarEsgotoNaBaíaDeGuanabara.”Weblogpost.AmbientalSustentável.N.p.,24Nov.2011.Web.20Dec.2012.<http://ambientalsustentavel.org/2011/bid-vai-emprestar-us-452-milhoes-para-melhorar-esgoto-na-baia-de-guanabara/>.13 Brazil.MinistérioDoMeioAmbiente(EnvironmentalMinistry).SNSA(NationalSecretariatofEnvironmentalSanitation).PlanoNacionalDeSaneamentoBásico-PLANSAB.Comp.VivianaSimon,NormaL.Carvalho,andSérgioA.Gonçalves.N.p.,2June2012.Web.12Feb.2013.<http://www.mma.gov.br/cidades-sustentaveis/residuos-solidos/instrumentos-da-politica-de-residuos/plano-nacional-de-saneamento-basico>.14 Valladares, Licia. Social Science Representations of Favelas in Rio De Janeiro: A Historical Perspective. Visiting Professor Paper. Austin, TX: LozanoLongInstituteofLatinAmericanStudies,2009.LANIC-UniversityofTexas.Web.30Apr.2013.<http://lanic.utexas.edu/project/etext/llilas/vrp/valladares.pdf>.15 Neuwirth,Robert.ShadowCities:ABillionSquatters,aNewUrbanWorld.NewYork:Routledge,2006.Print.16 Wiliamson,Theresa.“FavelasattheVanguard:RethinkingOurAssumptionsinSustainableDevelopment.”PrattInstitute,Brooklyn,NY.24Oct. 2012. Lecture. 17 Neuwirth, Robert. Shadow Cities: A Billion Squatters, a New Urban World.

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2.4. Mega-Events,“Pacification,”andRedevelopmentPrograms

TheupcomingFIFASoccerWorldCupin2014andOlympicGamesin2016haveheavilyinfluencedinvestment, development, and ultimately the treatment of favelas and their residents by the federal, state, and municipal governments. Following infrastructural and housing programs by previous administrations, designed to improve conditions in the most visible and notorious favelas18, the current government deemed favelaimprovementsnecessarytoshowcaseRiodeJaneiro’sworthasahostcity.Aseriesofprogramsintendedto“urbanize”and“pacify”thesecommunitieshascausedtremendouschangeintheirphysicalandsocioeconomic makeup, implemented via top-down, government-led initiatives. The federal PAC program, startedin2007bytherulingWorkers’Party(PT)toinstigateinfrastructuralandeconomicimprovementsforall Brazilians, includes a series of projects in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, such as a cable car system in Alemão favela completed in 201119. These development projects, however, could only be completed after some resolutiontoRio’sprevalentdrugtraffickingproblem.Thus,themunicipalgovernmentcreated“pacification”forcesunderthetitleofUPP(PacificationPoliceUnit),tosystematicallyevictdruggangsfrominformalcommunities in advance of public works. After each eviction, a social division of the UPP works with residents and city agencies to support capital and infrastructural improvements through social services and programs for transforming favelas, purportedly opening connections between the informal and formal city.

ArecentprogramformedbyRiodeJaneiromayorEduardoPaes,thecity’sHousingSecretariat(SMH),anditsPlanningDepartment(IPP)hasbecometheofficialmechanismfortheurbanizationoffavelas.MorarCarioca,whichroughlytranslatesto“toresideasacitizenofRiodeJaneiro(carioca)”,hasbeenformedtostreamlineandadministerimprovementsprojectsinRio’sfavelas,inordertoadheretotheInternationalOlympicCommittee’sSocialLegacyrequirements.Statedprogramgoalsinclude“...theimprovementofliving

18 Magalhães,Sérgio.“SobreaDemocratizaçãoDeCidade.AExperiênciaDaPolíticaHabitacionalDoRioDeJaneiro.”19 Ponce,LeonelL.“CableCarSystemCrownsUrbanRevitalizationProjectinRiodeJaneiro’sAlemãoFavelas.”Weblogpost.Inhabitat,N.p.07Oct.2011.Web.20Apr.2013.<http://inhabitat.com/cable-car-system-crowns-urban-revitalization-project-in-rio-de-janeiros-alemao-favela-complex/3/>.

Figure 2.4: A Morar Carioca community facility project in Rio de Janeiro.

morar-carioca-ex. 2011. Photograph. Programa Morar Carioca, Rio De Janeiro. UPP Social. Secretaria Municipal De Habitação - Rio De Janeiro, 2012. Web. 06 May 2013. <http://www.uppsocial.org/acao-prefeitura/programa-morar-carioca-secretaria-municipal-de-habitacao/>.

Figure 2.5: Forced removals have become common in RIo’s favelas.

DSC_0372. 2012. Photograph. Graves Violações De Direitos Humanos No Largo Do Tanque, Em Jacarepaguá, Rio De Janeiro. Comitê Popular Rio Copa E Olimpí adas. Comitê Popular Rio Copa E Olimpí adas, 22 Feb. 2013. Web. 23 Feb. 2013. <http://comitepopulario.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/graves-violacoes-de-direitos-humanos-no-largo-do-tanque-em-jacarepagua/>.

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conditionsoflow-incomepopulationsresidinginprecarioussettlements,conformingwith......RiodeJaneiro’sMasterPlanforSustainableUrbanDevelopment,”andapledge“...toaccompanyallactions[intheprogram]with social work developed to attend to the populations residing in settlements subject to the program.“20 With anestimatedbudgetofR$8billion(roughlyUS$4billion),tobepartiallyfinancedbyloansfromtheInter-American Development Bank, the program aims to improve conditions in all favelas with over 100 housing units by the year 202021.

2.5. SociopoliticalandParticipatoryDeficit

ThroughadesigncompetitionconductedbytheBrazilianInstituteofArchitects(IAB),fortyarchitecturefirmswerechosentoplananddesigntheMorarCariocaprojects;eachfirmwasassignedtoafavelaorfavela cluster22. The program, as delineated in its charter, has provisions for public participation in the form of “assemblies and meetings inside communities, and of presentations and debates open to organized civil society and to citizens.“23 Each project team must include at least one social worker and one anthropologist toensuretheconsiderationofcommunity-specificculturalandsocialneeds.Duringinitialprojectphases,themunicipalityofRiodeJaneirocontractedcommunitydevelopmentNGOiBasetoconducta“socialdiagnosis”oftheinitialtenprojects,includingfocusgroups,documentaryfilming,andresidentsurveysdesignedtorevealeachcommunity’spriorities24.

Whiletheseprovisionsseeminglyrepresentedadeparturefromthemunicipality’susualexclusionofpublicprocessinitsprojects,specificallyinfavelas,theimplementationofthesemeasureshavefailedtoaccomplishedstatedgoals.Publicmeetingsandassemblieswerehostedattheprojectteam’sconvenience(usuallyduringworkinghours),andinasurprisemove,thecityofRiodeJaneirosuspendeditscontractwithiBase in October of 201225. Thus, an innovative participatory process was completely removed from all Morar Carioca projects. But these complications do not signify the end of public participation and innovation in the redevelopmentoffavelas.ThecontinuedinfluxofinvestmentandattentionfurnishedbyMegaEventsandMorarCariocaprovidesanopportunitytoimproveuponexistingurbaninfrastructuremodels,inplanning,implementation, and maintenance, in hopes of creating vibrant, sustainable communities in Rio de Janeiro.

20 MunicipalityofRiodeJaneiro.“DecretoNº36388de29deOutubrode2012.”MorarCariocaCharter.DiárioOficialdoMunicípiodoRiodeJaneiro(OfficialDiaryoftheMunicipalityofRiodeJaneiro);yearXXVI,No155,30October2012:p.4-9.21 MunicipalHousingSecretariatofRiodeJaneiro.“MorarCarioca:ConheçaoPrograma.”Web.15Mar.2013.<http://www.rio.rj.gov.br/web/smh/exibeconteudo?article-id=1451251>.22 Osborn,Catherine.“AHistoryofFavelaUpgradesPartIII:MorarCariocainVisionandPractice(2008–Present).”Weblogpost.RioOnWatch.CatalyticCommunities,02Apr.2013.Web.28Apr.2013.<http://rioonwatch.org/?p=8136>.23 MunicipalityofRiodeJaneiro.“DecretoNº36388de29deOutubrode2012.”24 Osborn,Catherine.“AHistoryofFavelaUpgradesPartIII:MorarCariocainVisionandPractice(2008–Present).”25 Grzybowski,Cândido,andItamarSilva.LettertoResidentsofGrouping16ofMorarCariocaProgram(Cordovil).21Feb.2013.MS.RioDeJaneiro, RJ. On behalf of iBase.

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3. Participatory Sustainable Infrastructures: A Response to the Needs of Rio de Janeiro’s Favelas

RIodeJaneiroisinaposition,attheconfluenceofeconomicgrowth,Mega-Eventinvestment,andimpendingenvironmental crisis, to decide the direction of its development. Given this opportunity, how can informal communities properly leverage the social and environmental assets of their current condition, so as to improve thequalityoflifeoftheirresidents?HowcanwereassesscurrentmethodsofdevelopmentinRiodeJaneiro’sfavelas to ensure the inclusion of its residents and ecosystems, and thus provide a democratic and sustainable model of urbanity?

By applying community participation to democratically introduce performative natural systems, sustainable infrastructuresandsolutionsforunderrepresentedpopulationsinRiodeJaneiro’sfavelascanbeachieved.These,inturn,canbecomeflexiblemodelsforworldwideimplementation.Butfirst,theassetstobeleveragedandtheirrespectivepotentialbenefitsmustbeunderstood,soastoidentifypossiblecommunitiesforimplementation.

3.1. CommunityAssetsandBenefits:FixingtheParticipatoryDeficit

Inordertoempoweratargetcommunity,aparticipatoryprocessdrawsfromandenhancesexistingsocialand cultural resources. Before embarking upon a participatory process, it is important to understand the distinctchallengesposedbyspecificprojectsandcommunities.Certaincommunityassetsthatarecrucialtoparticipatory work, such as grassroots leadership, are more prevalent in some societies and populations than others. Careful and thorough engagement can ensure that optimal conditions are met for participation.

Figure 3.1: Community Participation + Natural Systems = Sustainable Infrastructures

Graphic by Leonel Lima Ponce. 2013.

+ =

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Preliminary steps in the formation of a participatory process include the establishment of trust with community members, leveraging transparency of process to demonstrate an agenda algined with that of the community. Trust is already strong in some smaller favelas, where residents leave their doors unlocked without fear, due to an unspoken code of privacy and respect26. While larger favelas tend to nurture less trusting neighbors, residents must still learn to rely in one another to strengthen their community against threats such as removals andfailinginfrastructure.Oncetrustisestablished,anexistingspiritofcollaboration,acquiredthroughcohabitation, can be directed towards engagement in a project. Many informal settlements have built housing or public infrastructure through mutirões27, or community actions, while others engage in community “social action”eventsthatprovidemissingpublichealthandcivilservicestoneighborsinneed28.

Once a community is engaged in a participatory process, its cumulative knowledge can be tapped into to formulateresidentpriorities,leadingtoparticipatorydiagnosesandsolutions.InRiodeJaneiro’sfavelas,thisbodyofknowledgeincludesfirst-handexperienceswithinfrastructuralfailures,perceptionsofgovernmentandinstitutionalprograms,andconstructionexperienceimplementedintheassemblyofeachhome.Wide-ranginginformation and skills currently utilized to resolve personal issues can be combined to formulate cohesive diagnoses and holistic solutions to communal concerns. But to implement large-scale change and empower acommunityinthesociopoliticalrealm,governmentofficialsmustbemadeaccountableforallconstituentcommunities. Strong leadership must be established from within, challenging municipal agencies to respond to knowledgeable, engaged, strong communities capable of providing their own solutions. This type of leadership is prevalent in favelas, which have repeatedly faced down the threat of removals, and have for the most part persevered.

A participatory process can empower the human residents of a community, leveraging and combining their strengths in order to overcome collective socioeconomic and infrastructural problems. While this strategy can build decades of resistance, a properly prepared community cannot account for the long-term stress of climatechange,populationinflux,andphysicalinfrastructuraldeficitsonitssupportingnaturalsystemsthrougha participatory process alone. In order to nurture a truly sustainable community, natural and environmental assets must be leveraged in concert with community assets to reduce and reverse the destructive impact of human residents on their habitat.

3.2. NaturalAssetsandBenefits:FixingtheEnvironmentalDeficit

Much like human communities, natural environments host a variety of assets that, if properly leveraged, can enhance the quality of life of organisms within a habitat. Historically, and especially since the Industrial Revolution, the physical development of cities has been accompanied by the destruction of natural ecosystems. But with the aid of participatory processes, we can begin to incorporate natural processes, systems,theirperformance,andtheresultanthabitatstoenhancetheperformanceofexisting,ormissing,infrastructural systems. These systems incorporate vernacular, pre-industrial techniques reliant on natural processes for functionality into high-tech materials and novel applications, suited for urban settings and enhanced performance rivaling conventional infrastructures.

26 FavelaasaSustainableModel.Dir.EmilySasson.Youtube.CatalyticCommunities,26June2012.Web.20Apr.2013.<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sT8rhhbCUA>.27 Pilote,Sarah.“Solidarityvs.Individualism:ThePowerofMutirão.”Weblogpost.RioOnWatch.CatalyticCommunities,26Sept.2011.Web.03May2013.<http://rioonwatch.org/?p=1762>.28 Da Silva, Irenaldo H. Personal interview. Rio de Janeiro, 23 Mar. 2013.

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Processessuchasbiofiltrationareincorporatedintoconstructedwetlandsandsubsurfaceirrigatedgardens,leading to the productive landscapes that yield agricultural crops29. The incorporation of natural systems such as rain gardens and other green infrastructure can transform underutilized land into public open space, formingamenitiesfrompreviouslyunderutilizedorflood-proneareas30. Once established, natural systems can perform regenerative functions that improve public health and reduce related costs in health care. According to researchers, a fully functional subsurface constructed wetland system can treat 95% of suspended solids and 99% of coliform in sewage without the use of additional chemicals31. The performance of remediative systems can be leveraged to reclaim the health of residents and their habitat. Once habitat is re-established, ecosystem healthincreasesaroundeachintervention.WithenoughnaturalsystemsinterventionsinRiodeJaneiro’sfavelas, the fragmentation that threatens Mata Atlântica can be reversed, promoting lasting biodiversity in the region.

3.3. ParticipatoryandSustainableProcess:Co-Benefits

Generally,theincorporationofexistinglocalresourcesintoacohesiveprojectcreatesimmediateadvantages.Thetotalvalueofaprojectismaximizedbypoolingresources,therebyminimizingcoststoeachparticipant.This incentivizes further collaboration, while putting less of a monetary and labor burden on each participant. A potentialdrawbackofpoolingresourcesistheriskof“freeriders,”whichincreasesasaninfrastructureproject

29 Nelson, M., F. Cattin, M. Rajendran, and L. Hafouda. “Value-adding through Creation of High Diversity Gardens and Ecoscapes in Subsurface FlowConstructedWetlands:CaseStudiesinAlgeriaandAustraliaofWastewaterGardens®Systems.”Lecture.IIthInternationalConferenceonWetlandSystems for Water Pollution Control. Vikram University, Indore, India. Nov. 2008. Wastewater Gardens. Wastewater Gardens ®, 30 Nov. 2008. Web. 12 Feb.2013.<http://www.wastewatergardens.com/2en_papers.html>.30 GuidelinesfortheDesignandConstructionofStormwaterManagementSystems.Rep.NewYorkCityDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection,July2012.Web.26Jan.2013.<http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/green_infrastructure/stormwater_guidelines_2012_final.pdf>.31 Tredwell,Robyn,andMarkNelson.“EffectiveApproachesforEnvironmental&WastewaterManagementandTraining–TheBirdwoodDownsCaseStudiesintheKimberleyRegionofWestAustralia.”Lecture.ConferenceonSustainabilityofIndigenousCommunities.MurdochUniversityEnvironmentalTechnologyCentre,Perth,Australia.July2006.WastewaterGardens.WastewaterGardens®,24Mar.2010.Web.12Feb.2013.<http://www.wastewatergardens.com/2en_papers.html>.

Figure 3.2: Example of a mutirão, or sweat equity construction.

268191. 2009. Photograph. Mutirão Na Praça Do Conjunto Palmeira, Fortaleza. Banco Palmas. Banco Palmas, 21 Dec. 2009. Web. 3 May 2013. <http://www.bancopalmas.org.br/oktiva.net/1235/nota/158289>.

Figure 3.3: Diagram of subsurface flow constructed wetlands.

White, Sarah. 96388display. Digital image. University of California - UNCFA News. University of California, 5 Apr. 2012. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. <http://ucanr.edu/sites/UCNFAnews/Feature_Stories/Ecological_approaches_used_in_nurseries_to_treat_water/>.

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approachesapublicgoodbygeneratingcommonbenefits32. But in the case of a distributed environmental service,suchaswastewaterandsanitation,thebenefitsaretransferredtoeachresidentthroughlowerriskofinfectionandtransmissionofdisease.Thusapositiveexternality,orco-benefit,providedbyoneresidentengaged in the process of planning, designing, and maintaining a project, will be enjoyed by all; yet the positive externalitiessuppliedtoany“freerider”wouldstillhelpthecommunityasawhole,stillprovidingasignificantsocialmarginalbenefit.

In addition to minimized direct costs to each resident and natural system, municipal agencies and investors canspendfewerfinancialresourcesonholistic,localizedinfrastructuralprojectsthanonconventionalsystems.This is especially true of operational and maintenance costs; municipal wastewater treatment systems include many pumping, chemical treatment, and mechanical treatment stations that constantly consume energy in the operationofexpensivepiecesofmachinery,withhighreplacementcosts.Energyconsumptionofconstructedwetland wastewater treatment systems can be as low as 15% that of traditional sewage treatment plants33. Buildingandplanningnaturalsystemsthroughaparticipatoryprocesscanpotentiallygenerateco-benefitslikelocal participation, job training and creation. Lower design and construction costs can also emerge from this process. Construction materials utilized in natural systems tend to be less costly and more readily available than those in large-scale, municipal infrastructural systems34.

Participatory Sustainable Infrastructure projects combine resources to holistically increase value and defray costs.However,whatsetsthemapartistheenhancedqualityoftheseprojectsbeyondfinancialvalue,such as improved quality of life for installation users. Intrinsic knowledge of site from residents, combined with environmental and technical knowledge from engineers, architects and other team members through acollaborativeprocess,yieldbenefitsbeyondthoseresultantfromaphysicalproject.Mutualeducationalopportunities abound in a participatory process that promotes information sharing, leading to a better educated and empowered public within and outside a target community. This knowledge can be compiled and presented in training programs geared towards new, green jobs. Through an iterative process of integration of community participationandnaturalsystems,anewparadigmcanemerge,wherevariousassetsarecombinedtoexpandthe scope and impact of each project, producing holistic solutions that incorporate the needs and tools of all community and environmental stakeholders. These inclusive projects, as a byproduct of their breadth, create benefitsbeyondtheirprimaryintent,leavinglastingimpactsoncommunitiesandecosystems.

32 Keohane,NathanielO.,andSheilaM.Olmstead.MarketsandtheEnvironment.Washington,DC:Island,2007.Print.33 Nelson,Mark;H.T.Odum,M.T.Brown,andA.Alling.““LivingofftheLand”:ResourceEfficiencyofWetlandWastewaterTreatment.”AdvancesinSpaceResearch27.9(2001):1547-556.WastewaterGardens.WastewaterGardens®,26Sept.2001.Web.12Feb.2013.<http://www.wastewatergardens.com/2en_papers.html>.34 lson, Mark, Robyn Tredwell, Andrzej Czech, Gove Depuy, Made Suraja, and Florence Cattin. “Worldwide Applications of Wastewater GardensandEcoscaping:DecentralisedSystemsWhichTransformSewagefromProblemtoProductive,SustainableResource.”Lecture.InternationalConference on Decentralised Water and Wastewater Systems. Murdoch University, Fremantle, Australia. July 2006. Wastewater Gardens. Wastewater Gardens®,28May2006.Web.12Feb.2013.<http://www.wastewatergardens.com/2en_papers.html>.

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4. Project Client

ParticipatorySustainableInfrastructurespresentanopportunitytointegrateexistingresourcesandprocessesinto a novel approach of urban environmental systems management. But to move towards implementation, this conceptmustbetestedthroughimplementationapilotproject.Aclientmustbeidentifiedandvettedthroughasetofcriteriatodeterminefeasibilityandappropriatenessofanexperiment.Atrustingrelationshipcanthenbebuilt with a client through an honest participatory process.

4.1. Community+Ecosystem=Client

Inconventionalinfrastructureprojects,aclientisdefinedbyprojectscope,andthefinancialrelationshipsaffected by it. In this model, contractors and product manufacturers consider utility production, distribution, and management companies and agencies as their clients; the latter then identify municipalities, and individual customers as their clients. In order to transform infrastructure projects into participatory and sustainable models, the concept of a client must change as well.

Since Participatory Sustainable Infrastructures leverage the assets of community and ecosystems in order to mutually improve their quality, such a project logically serves both community and ecosystem as clients. In this model, each client is not merely an agent who receives a service or pays a fee, but also an engaged

Figure 4.1: Irenaldo Honório da Silva, President of Favela Pica-Pau’s Residents’ Association, stands on a footbridge over the Irajá River.

site visit photo, Pica-Pau No Cordovil, Rio De Janeiro. Personal photographs by Leonel Lima Ponce. 2013.

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participant that provides services and resources, manages and monitors performance, and participates in all steps of planning, design, construction and operation of an infrastructural application. A community engages throughparticipatoryprocesses,whichcanextendintocommunitystewardshipandownershipofprojects;anecosystem participates as project client via the provision of ecosystem services and the regulation of system performance through natural processes and their limits. An engaged and comprehensive client base, inclusive of ecosystems and communities, facilitates a holistic project that is enhanced by its own development in a self-sustainable manner.

4.2. IdentifyingaPotentialClient:Pica-PauFavelainRiodeJaneiro

ToconductapilotParticipatorySustainableInfrastructureplanningproject,Ifirstwasrequiredtosearchforaspecific,andappropriate,client.ThroughspeculativeconversationswithTheresaWilliamson,apre-existingcontactandExecutiveDirectorofCatalyticCommunities,afavelaadvocacyNGO,thePica-Paucommunitywasestablishedasaprospectiveclientdemonstrativeofthedeficitsandassetstargetedtoproceedwithproject implementation.

Figure 4.1: Community members and their host ecosystem are both considered as clients in a Participatory Sustainable Infrastructures process.

Graphic by Leonel Lima Ponce. 2013.

ECOSYSTEM (SITE)

COMMUNITY

CLIENT

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4.2.1. General Characteristics

Pica-Paufavelawasfoundedintheearly1950’s35, in the neighborhood of Cordovil, in the North Zone of Rio de Janeirocity.CordovilislooselyborderedbyAvenidaBrasil,oneofRio’smajorthoroughfares,totheEastandNorth,theIrajáRivertotheSouth,andAvenidaMeriti,alocalmainroad,totheWest.IlhadoGovernador,anislandthatisoccupiedprimarilybyRiodeJaneiro’sinternationalairport,sitsjustontheothersideofAvenidaBrasil, in the polluted Guanabara Bay36.

Pica-Pauisarelativelysmallfavela,coveringapproximately38,000squaremeters37, and located within landfilledmangroves.ItsSouthernedgeisboundbySchulzWenkAvenue,alongtheIrajáRiver.Theriveritselfis canalized and stretches over eight kilometers from its source at the Inhaúma neighborhood to its mouth at the Guanabara Bay38, near Ilha do Governador. Its Eastern neighbor is a cryogenic equipment manufacturing facility, which belongs to industrial enterprise White Martins39. At its Northeast corner, and the main access point into the community, Pica-Pau abuts a series of access roads and ramps to and from Avenida Brasil. This location is uphill from the river and Southern portion of the favela, and at the intersection between its 35 ArqhosConsultoriaeProjetos.“MorarCarioca:Cordovil-DiagnósticoLocal,Cordovil.”Report.RiodeJaneiro,Brazil:2012.36 “MapasDigitaisDoRioDeJaneiro.”Map.RioPrefeitura-InstitutoPereiraPassos.MunicipalityofRioDeJaneiro,2012.Web.18Feb.2013.<http://portalgeo.rio.rj.gov.br/ipp_viewer/?config=config/ipp/cadlog.xml>.37 IBGE(BrazilianInstituteofGeographyandStatistics).“CensoDemográfico2010:AglomeradosSubnormais.”ReportRiodeJaneiro,2010.38 “Macrobacias,Microbacias,Sub-bacias,RiosECanais.”GeologiaEHidrografiaDaCidadeDoRioDeJaneiro.Ed.RondonM.Fatá.FundaçãoCentroDeCiênciasEEducaçãoSuperioràDistânciaDoEstadoDoRioDeJaneiro,20May2006.Web.06May2013.<http://www.educacaopublica.rj.gov.br/oficinas/geologia/hidrografia_rj/14.html>.39 “WhiteMartins-FábricaDeEquipamentosCriogênicos(FEC)(RioDeJaneiro).”Map.WikiMapia.N.p.,n.d.Web.05May2013.<http://wikimapia.org/6900962/pt/White-Martins-Fábrica-de-Equipamentos-Criogênicos-FEC>.

Rio de Janeiro

Guanabara Bay

Niterói

PICA-PAU

Figure 4.1: Location of Pica-Pau, in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro, near the Guanabara Bay.

Google Maps/ NOAA. “Rio de Janeiro.” (Orthographic photography). Graphics by Leonel Lima Ponce

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two central roads, Aricambú and Amaetinga. Aricambú Street bisects the community form Northeast to West, and functions as its main public space. Amaetinga bounds the favela to the North, climbing uphill from East to West40. The steep territory between these two roads is populated by dozens of closely sited masonry homes. Narrow alleys and concrete stairways meander up, down and around these structures. Between Aricambú and Schulz Wenk Avenue by the river, slightly wider alleys connect larger, more established homes41.

Locatedattheintersectionofmajorhubsandaxes,Pica-Pauisservedbyavarietyoftransportationoptions,including regional rail, a subway line, and buses. However, most transportation within Cordovil itself is provided by privately-owned licensed minivans. These transportation options connect residents to a variety of employment,leisureandpublicservicesopportunities,giventheproximitytothecitycenterandotherpolesofcommercial activity42.

4.2.2. Community: Existing Infrastructure

Duetoitsstrategiclocation,Pica-Pauisadenselypopulatedcommunity.Theexactnumberofresidentsisdifficulttoaccountforduetolackofhousingtitles43,personaldocumentationandincompletecounts.Officialestimates from the IBGE municipal census of 2010 account for 2,300 persons housed in 545 units44; however, amorerecentcountdonefortheMorarCariocaprogram’slocaldiagnosticreportreports660units,housing

40 “MapasDigitaisDoRioDeJaneiro.”Map.RioPrefeitura-InstitutoPereiraPassos.41 ArqhosConsultoriaeProjetos.“MorarCarioca:Cordovil-DiagnósticoLocal,Cordovil.”42 Pica-Paucommunityresidents.“Pica-PauCommunityVIsioningWorkshop.”Personaltestimonies.RiodeJaneiro,6Apr.2013.43 Da Silva, Irenaldo H. Personal interview. Rio de Janeiro, 23 Mar. 2013.44 IBGE(BrazilianInstituteofGeographyandStatistics).“CensoDemográfico2010:AglomeradosSubnormais.”

sewage treatment plant

sewage treatment plant

Guanabara Bay

Governor’s Island(airport)

Cordovil

PICA-PAU

~3 km

Figure 4.1: Map of Cordovil and surrounding neighborhoods, Rio de Janeiro. Nearby sewage treatment plants shown.

“Mapas Digitais Do Rio De Janeiro.” Map. Portal-GEO. Prefeitura Do Rio De Janeiro, 2012. Web. 22 Feb. 2013. <http://portalgeo.rio.rj.gov.br/ipp_viewer/?config=config/ipp/cadlog.xml>. Graphics by Leonel Lima Ponce. 2013.

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Figure 4.1: Sewerage survey of favela Pica-Pau, 1:500 scale.

ArqhosConsultoriaeProjetos.“MorarCarioca:Cordovil-DiagnósticoLocal,Cordovil.”

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just over 2,500 people45.ThepopulationofPica-Paucomesfromavarietyoforigins,rangingfromfishermennative of Northeast Brazil46whosettledonswampylandfilldecadesago,tonewresidentswhohavearrivedfrom surrounding areas in the face of speculation and rising rents in the metropolitan area47. Average income in this community is low, and there is a lack of cultural facilities, technical and secondary education for youth, aswellasahighindexofdrugtraffickingactivityandaddictionamongstyouth48. In order to mitigate some of thesesystemicsocialandculturaldeficits,astrongResidents’Associationwasformedin1966,withthelatestiteration operated by Irenaldo Honório da Silva for the last two decades. For the pilot Pariticpatory Sustainable Infrastructuresproject,IrenaldoandthePica-PauResidents’Associationwereselectedasrepresentativeforapotential community client.

4.2.3. Ecosystem: Existing Infrastructure

Identifying an ecosystem to serve as a sustainable project client is not a simple task in a dense urban environment, even in a verdant city such as Rio de Janeiro. Within the boundaries of favela Pica-Pau, the original mangrove ecosystem has been completely covered up and transformed. In fact, over 90% of the communityispaved,withtheexceptionofvegetatedareasonsteepterrain49. At the Southern edge of the community,theIrajáRiverrepresentsPica-Pau’smostimmediateconnectiontoanexistingecosystem.Theriver, although canalized, empties out on the Guanabara Bay, introducing over 12% of the pollution incident upon this major water body50. The bay itself is home to some of the few remaining stretches of mangrove in the cityofRiodeJaneiro.ThisfledglingalluvialhabitatservesasthepotentialecosystemclientforaCommunitySustainable Infrastructure project in favela Pica-Pau.

4.3. Client Selection Criteria

Favela Pica-Pau demonstrated itself as a potential client representative of both community and ecosystem, but how did I select it as an optimal client? A set of selection criteria were formulated to properly choose a potential client for this project. These criteria enable the project to move from conception, through various iterations and obstacles,resolvingasetofproblemsforacommunityandsite,andeventuallysettingapathandexampleforfutureprojects.FivecrucialcriteriawerechosentodeterminePica-Pau’smeritasaprojectclient:partnerships,infrastructural need, potential impact, opportunity for intervention, and community buy-in and organization.

4.3.1. Partnership: Catalytic Communities and Pica-Pau Residents’ Association

Participatory community work demands the acquisition of a fair amount of trust and local knowledge. Although anativeofRiodeJaneiro,Iamaforeignresidentwithminimaldirectexposuretoandcontactswithinthecity’sfavelas.Iestablishedanearlyneedtoformlocalpartnershipstomovetheprojectforward.Throughpre-research, a few potential partners were discovered, organizations that worked as engaged partners with informal communities, and attempted to leverage local assets for the enhanced visibility and empowerment its residents.

45 ArqhosConsultoriaeProjetos.“MorarCarioca:Cordovil-DiagnósticoLocal,Cordovil.”46 Carter,Kacey.“HaveráUmDesastre,EaPrefeituraSabe.”Weblogpost.RioOnWatch.Ed.RoseliFranco.CatalyticCommunities,01Aug.2012.Web.20Dec.2012.<http://rioonwatch.org.br/?p=3397>.47 Pica-Paucommunityresidents.“Pica-PauTransectWalk.”Personalinterview.RiodeJaneiro,30Mar.2013.48 ArqhosConsultoriaeProjetos.“MorarCarioca:Cordovil-DiagnósticoLocal,Cordovil.”49 ArqhosConsultoriaeProjetos.“MorarCarioca:Cordovil-DiagnósticoLocal,Cordovil.”50 Hoffmann,Sandra.“SecretariaDoAmbienteIniciaConstruçãoDaUTRDoRioIrajá.”Weblogpost.GovernoDoEstadoDoRioDeJaneiro,SecretariaDoAmbiente(RiodeJaneiroStateEnvironmentalSecretariat.)GovernoDoEstadoDoRioDeJaneiro,28Nov.2012.Web.30Apr.2013.<http://www.rj.gov.br/web/sea/exibeconteudo?article-id=1349499>.

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CatalyticCommunities(CatComm),anon-governmentalorganizationfoundedbyurbanplannerDr.Theresa Williamson in 2000, produced work most relevant to my project. CatComm is a Non-Governmental Organization that works in the destigmatization and empowerment of informal communities in Rio de Janeiro, showcasingthepotentialoffavelasassolutiongeneratorsforRiodeJaneiro’sproblems.Inadditiontotheirwork as media and advocacy consultants and information conduits to informal communities, the organization haspartneredfavelaleaderswithtechnicalexpertsandstudentsworkingoncommunitydevelopmentprojects.CatComm’sinitialwork,donein2001-2009wasanopendatabaseofgrassrootsprojectsinfavelas51. By reportingontheinfrastructuralneeds,andsocial,economic,andenvironmentalassetsofRiodeJaneiro’sfavelas, CatComm possessed valuable background information and local connections necessary to identify a target community and advance a Participatory Sustainable Infrastructure proposal.

During telephone conversations with Dr. Williamson in late 201252,anumberoffavelaswereidentifiedaspotentialclientsfortheproject.Onecommunity,however,exhibitedoptimalneed,potential,opportunity,andorganizationnecessarytofollowthroughwiththeproject.Pica-Pau,officiallyknownasfavelaCordovil,wasselected as our target client.

4.3.2. Infrastructural Need

A needs-based approach, it was decided, would provide the most underserved communities with the necessary resources to dramatically improve quality of life. Favela Pica-Pau was featured as a community in direneedofinfrastructureimprovementsinCatComm’s2012shortfilm“FavelaasaSustainableModel,”whichwasexhibitedthatJuneattheUnitedNations’Rio+20Summit53.Accordingtothefilm,openandoverflowingsewers,“areasofrisk”oferosion,andpublichealthissueswereprevalentthroughoutthefavela.ItwasdeterminedthatPica-Pau’swastewatersystems,andtheresultantinfrastructuraldeficit,wouldserveasthefocus of the project.

51 “CatCommToday.”CatalyticCommunities.CatalyticCommunities,2012.Web.06May2013.<http://www.catcomm.org/en/?page_id=57>.52 Williamson, Theresa. Telephone Interview. Dec. 2012.53 Favela as a Sustainable Model. Dir. Emily Sasson.

Figure 4.6: A pre-existing partnership between Catalytic Communiies and Irenaldo Honório da Silva of the Pica-Pau Residents’ Association facilitated the project’s progress.

Images: Park, Christina. Photograph. New York. 2009. Catalytic Communities Logo. Digital image. Catalytic Communities. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2013. <http://www.catcomm.org/en/>. Irenaldo Honório da Silva. Photograph. Catalytic Communities. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2013. <http://www.catcomm.org/en/>.Graphics by Leonel Lima Ponce. 2013.

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Pica-Pau’swatersupplyisprovidedbystateutilitycompanyCEDAE,viaapumpingstationbytheIrajáRiver.The system pumps water to the lower elevations of the community, and up to Aricambú Street. Water pressure issues, mainly the result of poor maintenance on the pumping station, have forced residents to insert their own pumps into the system. This is costly solutions, especially in areas of higher elevation, between Aricambú and Amaetinga Streets54. From anecdotal visual evidence compiled by CatComm, I deduced that many houses utilize“caixasd’água”,orrooftopwatercollectionbasins,tocomplementthemunicipalwatersupply55.

A combined wastewater and stormwater system bisects Pica-Pau on Aricambú Street, eventually dumping allcollectedfluidsintotheIrajáRiver.Theriver,inturn,emptiesoutintotheGuanabaraBay.Sewerconduitsand catchbasins are in a state of disrepair; concrete basin covers lay shattered along the system. In addition to this formal system, residents have installed informal above ground sewerage, especially in the sloped area between Aricambú and Amaetinga. The additional load on aging combined sewer pipes results in a system overload,causingoutfallsandsurfaceflowofstormandwastewaterduringsevereweatherevents56.Existingsewage treatment plants, no closer than 3km away, are located in separate sewersheds and watersheds fromfavelaPica-Pau,whichdrainsdirectlyintotheadjacentIrajáRiver.Exacerbatedbysurfacewaterrunoff,erosionandsubsequentlandslideshavebecomeaseriousissue,specificallyintheareabetweenAmaetingaand Aricambú streets. According to municipal geological department GEORIO, at least ten erosion-related “accidents”haveoccurredinthelastfifteenyears.Inordertomediatethesituation,themunicipalgovernmenthas built a series of concrete retaining walls, removing residents from their homes in the process57.

ResidentialsolidwasteisofficiallycollectedalongtheperimeterofPica-Paubythemunicipalsanitationcompany, COMLURB. However, collection is not provided inside the favela; neither is the typical street cleaning and sweeping service that the agency manages throughout the city. No trash receptacles are present withintheboundariesofthefavela;accordingtoanofficialsurvey,onlytwodumpstersexistontheperiphery.

54 ArqhosConsultoriaeProjetos.“MorarCarioca:Cordovil-DiagnósticoLocal,Cordovil.”55 Dorado,RexyJ.,JonathanO’Farrell,NicholasO’Farrell,andIsabelleRobinson.“VisittoPica-PauinCordovil:PhotoAlbum.”Flickr.CatalyticCommunities,23June2012.Web.20Feb.2013.<http://www.flickr.com/photos/catcomm/sets/72157630259675482/with/7432105224/>.56 ArqhosConsultoriaeProjetos.“MorarCarioca:Cordovil-DiagnósticoLocal,Cordovil.”57 GEORIO(RiodeJaneiroMunicipalGeotechnicalInstitute).“MorarCariocaLocalDiagnostic:Cordovil.Geological-GeotechnicalRiskReport.”Report. Rio de Janeiro, Dec. 2012.

Figure 4.7: Infrastructural failures in favela Pica-Pau

Infrastructural failures, Pica-Pau No Cordovil, Rio De Janeiro. Personal photographs by Leonel Lima Ponce. 2013.

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As a result, garbage accumulates throughout the community, particularly along the bottom of steep slopes58. Additional infrastructural issues regarding electricity, mobility, accessibility and public services were noted in various surveying documents produced by government agencies and consultants. However, it was determined thatthemostseriouswaterandsanitationissuescouldbedealtwithfirst,yieldingprocessesandresultsthatcould be utilized to leverage potential solutions for these additional concerns as part of a holistic, replicable project.

4.3.3. Potential Impact

Infrastructural need was determined for Pica-Pau; but dozens of other informal communities suffer from similar deficits.Thepotentialtocreateawideimpactonthemostcommunityandenvironmentalassetspossibleemergedasanimportantfactorinconfirmingourclientchoice.Thisspecificfavelaisnotlarge,officiallyhousingaround2,500people.However,Pica-Pau’suniquepositionasapartofaprojectintheMorarCariocafavela development program creates a platform for the development of future community-based infrastructural proposals.ByengagingwiththedesignteamledbyarchitectureofficeArqhos,incorporationofparticipatoryproposalsintoofficialcityagendabecomesapossiblity.TheprojectthatincludesfavelaPica-Pauwillservea

58 ArqhosConsultoriaeProjetos.“MorarCarioca:Cordovil-DiagnósticoLocal,Cordovil.”

2,300-12,000 PEOPLE AFFECTED

Pica Pau (official boundaries): Est. Area a: 3,8000 m2

Est. Population (2010) b: 2,300

Estimated Cordovil favela complex(subject to Morar Carioca project) Est. Area a: 235,000 m2 Est. Population (2010) b: 12,000

Figure 4.8: Map of communities subject to Morar Carioca in Cordovil and surrounding neighborhoods, Rio de Janeiro

“Mapas Digitais Do Rio De Janeiro.” Map. Portal-GEO. Prefeitura Do Rio De Janeiro, 2012. Web. 22 Feb. 2013. <http://portalgeo.rio.rj.gov.br/ipp_viewer/?config=config/ipp/cadlog.xml>. Graphics by Leonel Lima Ponce. 2013.

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total population of over 12,000 people59insurroundingcommunities,expandingthepotentialimmediateimpactof incorporation. Additionally, full inclusion of Participatory Sustainable Infrastructures into the Morar Carioca program could impact hundreds of thousands of people.

At the minimum, a comparison can be made between the two parallel processes, engaging the public in adialoguetowardsdemocraticurbanizationprocesses.Tothisend,thepre-existingpartnershipbetweenIrenaldoandtheResidents’Association,andTheresaandCatCommenhancesthepotentialforprojectpublicity. Consideration must also be paid to the geographic positioning of favela Pica-Pau; its locaiton near the international airport and Avenida Brasil enhances its immediate visibility as a pilot project to both local residentsandinternationalvisitors.AttheedgeoftheGuanabaraBay,oneofRiodeJaneiro’smostcrucialnatural resources, this client represents a crucial opportunity to serve important local and regional ecosystems, withtremendouspotentialforimpactonthereclamationofthecity’sdisappearingwetlandsandmangroves.

4.3.4. Opportunity

The Morar Carioca program provides a platform for multiplying the potential of a Participatory Sustainable Infrastructure project in favela Pica-Pau, but is there an opportunity to achieve this potential? While the redevelopmentofRiodeJaneiro’sinformalcommunitieshasbeenanongoingprocessspanningdecades,ithasnotbeeninclusive.Favelasadjacenttoaffluentandtourist-drivenZonaSul(SouthZone)ofRiodeJaneiro have garnered attention for their problems and subsequent improvement projects, while places such

59 IBGE(BrazilianInstituteofGeographyandStatistics).“CensoDemográfico2010:AglomeradosSubnormais.”

Figure 4.9: Morar Carioca timeline for Cordovil project, and opportunities for insertion of a Participatory Sustainable Infrastructure planning process.

graphics by Leonel Lima Ponce. 2013.

MAR./APR. 2013

DESIGN TEAMS

CHOSEN

SITESURVEY

+DIAGNOSIS

PROJECTDESIGN

CONSTRUCTION

PARTICIPATORYPLANNING

WORKSHOPS

NATURALSYSTEMSINCORPORATION

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as Cordovil and Pica-Pau remain out of the public eye. Recently, improvement projects have been clustered aroundOlympicGamesinfrastructure,andoncheaplandinthecity’soutskirts60. In the past year, due to additionalpressurefromtheOlympicLegacyrequirementsonRiodeJaneiro’scapitalimprovementsprojects,the Morar Carioca program has included favelas in the Cordovil neighborhood for possible infrastructural and housing improvements61.

The current timeline for the particular Morar Carioca project in Cordovil illustrates additional opportunities for the development of a parallel, participatory and sustainable process. Although the faced bureaucratic complications with Morar Carioca, removing signs designating future projects such as Cordovil62. While these developmentsdonotbodewellforthetimelycontinuationofofficialurbanizationprojects,theycreateanopportunity to address Pica-Pau as a client through a participatory planning process. without jeopardizing potentialintegrationintoofficialtimelines.Totakeadvantageofthiswindow,ItraveledtoRiodeJaneiroinMarch and April of 2013, and conducted a series of participatory planning workshops in hopes of incorporating natural systems into sustaiable solutions for favela Pica-Pau.

4.3.5. Community Buy-In and Organization

OncetheneedsandpotentialofPica-Paucommunitywereestablished,itwascrucialtoassessitsresidents’interest in participating. In order for any participatory process to function successfully, a community must be effectively engaged from the beginning through strong leadership and a willing public. During our initial conversationinlate2012,TheresaunderscoredthestrengthoftheleadershipatPica-Pau,specificallyIrenaldoHonóriodaSilva,PresidentoftheResidents’Association63. Irenaldo, active at his post since 1994, has advocated for his community at municipal agencies to improve housing rights, and collaborated with local religious and social institutions to conduct events promoting public health, youth education, and drug rehabilitation. He has participated in various conferences at the municipal, state and national levels as an advocate for Pica-Pau and other informal, underrepresented communities64.

Irenaldo and the Association have been particularly strong proponents of environmental education and activism in the community and the city. From 1999 to 2001, he conducted an after-school environmental education program in the community, sponsored by the Municipal Environmental Secretariat. He has represented CordovilcommunitiesindiscussionaboutthecontinuationoftheUnitedNations’Agenda21forsustainabledevelopment, and has supported youth-led programs to educate residents about solid waste sorting and recycling. Irenaldo believes in the need to strike a harmonious balance between the natural environment and the city, especially since they are intricately connected in Rio de Janeiro. However, he also notes that social trends in Pica-Pau and Rio de Janeiro as a whole have led to an impasse in progress towards this harmony. According to him, government agencies have continually stalled in their initiatives to improve environmental and socioeconomic conditions for underserved populations. However, these citizens have not organized and rallied behind these injustices, instead fracturing into engaged and disengaged citizen groups.

60 Cummings,Jason.“ConfrontingtheFavelaChic:GentrificationofInformalSettlementsinRioDeJaneiro,Brazil.”Thesis.HarvardUniversityGraduate School of Design, Department of Urban Planning and Design, 2013. Personal FTP Site. Jason Cummings, Apr. 2013. Web. 29 Apr. 2013.61 Muniz,Erivelton.“ArquitetosApresentamDiagnósticoDoComplexoDeFavelasCordovil.”InstitutoDeArquitetosDoBrasil–RioDeJaneiro.IAB-RJ,15Jan.2013.Web.30Jan.2013.<http://www.iabrj.org.br/morarcarioca/2013/01/arquitetos-apresentam-diagnostico-do-complexo-de-favelas-cordovil/>.62 Osborn,Catherine.“AHistoryofFavelaUpgradesPartIII:MorarCariocainVisionandPractice(2008–Present).”Weblogpost.RioOnWatch.CatalyticCommunities,02Apr.2013.Web.28Apr.2013.<http://rioonwatch.org/?p=8136>.63 Williamson, Theresa. Telephone Interview. Dec. 2012.64 Da Silva, Irenaldo H. Personal interview. Rio de Janeiro, 23 Mar. 2013.

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Irenaldo believes that half of the responsibility lies with the city and he other half with its citizens. Through thisskepticism,hehopesthattheParticipatorySustainableInfrastructuresprojectwillgalvanizePica-Pau’sresidents to take up their share of the effort, and pressure the municipal government to do their part as well65.

Due to strength in organizing, its potential and opportunity as a Morar Carioca target community, and its dire sanitation infrastructure needs, Pica-Pau is an ideal client, from a community and ecosystem perspective, to undertake a Participatory Sustainable Infrastructure planning process.

65 Da Silva, Irenaldo H. Personal interview. Rio de Janeiro, 23 Mar. 2013.

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5. Participatory Sustainable Infrastructure Planning: Favela Pica-Pau

Once Pica-Pau was established as a robust client, it was necessary to construct a strategy and agenda for implementationofaparticipatoryprocess.ExtensiveresearchintoexistingparticipatoryactivitiesledtoanmenuofoptionsforfieldworkinRiodeJaneiro.However,anorderandscopeofworkhadtobeestablishedtocultivate engagement in an accessible manner to residents.

5.1. ParticipatoryStrategies

5.1.1. Initial Expectations and Iterative Assessment

My initial hope for this project, as discussed in preliminary conversations with the client, was to collaborate with the residents of Pica-Pau, its host ecosystem, Catalytic Community and others to propose and analyze a participatory process that could be utilized to engage communities globally in the diagnosis, planning, and resolutionofphysical,environmental,andsocialinfrastructuraldeficits.Thisparticipatoryprocesscouldbeimplemented through holistic infrastructural proposals, physical interventions and solutions within Pica-Pau,

Figure 5.1: Residents of favela Pica-Pau construct models of infrastructural solutions during the April 6, 2013 Community Visioning Workshop

Williamson, Theresa. IMG_4354. 2013. Photograph. Pica-Pau Community Visioning Workshop, Rio De Janeiro. Comp.Catalytic Communities.

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and a Master Plan to be incorporated into the Morar Carioca project in the area. Eventually, a potential would emerge for incorporation of a participatory and sustainable redevelopment agenda at the city level. However, thisidealizedprocesswascontinuallyadaptedanddevelopedaccordingtorealitiesinthefield.

In order to prioritize a realistic and actionable path through original project objectives, an iterative assessment wasconductedtoadaptthescopeandexpectedoutcomesduringmytimeinthefield.Throughroutineconversations and correspondence with project advisors, as well as meetings with I narrowed the focus of myworkforthedurationofmyvisittofitwithinthepriorities,availability,andcapacityoftheclient,alongwithpersonal limitations66. As documented below, outcomes of this initial project phase were limited to diagnostic work and general community visions. This information provides a valuable tool for incorporation into future participatoryprocesses,continuingPica-Pau’sParticipatorySustainableInfrastructureplanningprocesstowards implementation and replication.

5.1.2. Ordering Activities, Fostering Engagement

From conception, this participatory project strove to engage residents of a community in the most meaningful way possible, regarding resident empowerment, project feasibility, and implementation potential and impact. Toensuremutualparticipationandengagement,activitieswereorderedinaspecificmanner.Designatedpreliminarytaskswereopen-ended,allowingparticipantstofreelyandcreativelyexpresstheiropinions.Theseactivities occurred in familiar settings and utilized common objects, processes and tools, in order to establish a comfortableenvironmentforparticipants.Introductoryactionsanalyzeexistingconditions,leadingtodiagnosticexplorations.Fromtheseopenandexploratoryexperiences,participantswereengagedtowardsresultorientedactivities, employing novel tools and settings to formulate empowering, innovative solutions. This progression transpired through an iterative process, a series of activities and workshops over the course of several weeks.

FormyinitialvisittoRiodeJaneiro,specifictaskswereselectedandorderedaccordingtotheabovecriteria.Preliminary meetings were set up to understand the limitations of the Pica-Pau community and its leadership, as well as Catalytic Community and its volunteers and collaborators. Transect Walks, a series of community-guidedmappingexcursionsthroughthesite,followed.Theseexcursionsacclimatedasubsetofresidentstotheparticipatoryprocessandtechnicalsupportteam,withintheboundariesandexperiencesoftheirquotidian,whilegatheringdiagnosticfielddata.Uponassimilationofthisinformationbythetechnicalteam,aCommunityVisioning Workshop was hosted with a larger subsection of the community. This Workshop followed a similar progressionastheentireprocess:anopenphysicalmodelingactivitycalled“CityasPlay”encouragedparticipantstodiagnoseexistingproblemsandcreatesolutionswithoutmuchguidanceorinhibition,usingsimple objects and toys. A Sustainable Infrastructures Catalog, along with inspirational videos and images of successful natural systems, were then presented to the audience to introduce possibilities and alternate visions to incorporate with community contributions. From these inputs, participants worked together to assimilate the diagnostic and technical information into visionary, novel, participatory solutions.

5.1.3. Documentation

The comprehensive documentation of process and product is integral to the success of any pilot project. A logofgoals,assumptions,expectations,obstacles,activities,andresultsprovidesthenecessarymaterialto conduct a proper assessment of the success of such a project. Additionally, documentation could serve asatooltoensuremoreextensiveparticipation,asutilizingmultiplemediatogathercommunityinputcan

66 Appelbaum, Alec. Personal conversations. Online. April 2013.

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document information that a singular person or could not capture. Thus, for the Favela Pica-Pau Participatory SustainableInfrastructureplanningprocess,membersoftheproject’stechnicalteam,consistingofmyselfand a few volunteers from Catalytic Communities, documented each activity and meeting through a variety of media, including photography, voice recording, video, written notes, and drawing. Residents contributed with interviews, written documentation, and drawings whenever possible. Much of the information gathered has been applied in the following analysis, and will be made available through an online database for future reference,encouragingafreeandopenexchangeofinformationbeyondtheextentsoftheprojectitself.

5.2. PreliminaryMeetings

5.2.1. Meeting with Catalytic Communities

Throughout my stay in Rio de Janeiro, I participated in weekly Catalytic Communities meetings hosted by Theresa Williamson; the gatherings were held on March 18 and 25, and April 1 and 8. These meetings provided me with updates on CatComm volunteers and their work in other favelas, and furnished a platform to exploretheParticipatorySustainableInfrastructureprojectconceptswithanewaudience.Feedbackreceivedfrom employees, interns, volunteers, and Theresa Williamson herself proved crucial in directing the scope of the work and determining potential partnerships for this and future projects. Activities performed each week weresharedwiththoseinattendance,soastoexplicatetheprocessandfindingsandrequestsuggestions.Volunteerswererecruitedtohelpdocumentandconductparticipatoryactivitiesinthefield.Theiravailabilityand capacity to collaborate was determined, and a core team was assembled to accompany me to favela Pica-Pau each week67(SeeAppendixB).

5.2.2. Meeting with Irenaldo Honório da Silva (Pica-Pau Residents’ Association)

BeforebecominginvolvedwithasignificantcrosssectionofthePica-Paucommunity,Iarrangedaface-to-facemeetingwithIrenaldoHonóriodaSilva,thePresidentofthefavela’sResidents’Association,onMarch23rd,2013. The primary goal of the meeting was to align my personal objectives and priorities for a Participatory Sustainable Infrastructure planning process with those of the community and its leadership. Irenaldo was askedtospeakfirst,andexplaintheprincipalwastewaterissuesofthecommunity.Theinterconnectivityofwastewater,water,stormwater,andsanitationsystemsandrespectiveinfrastructuraldeficitsbecameclearimmediatelypromptinganexpansionofprojectscopefromtheoriginalconcentrationonpurelywastewater.Particularemphasiswasplacedonflooding,riskoflandslides,overflowingsewerage,solidwasteaccumulation, and disease.

The main concept behind the Participatory Sustainable Infrastructure project was presented to Irenaldo, who understoodandapprovedit,andpledgedtofacilitatetheexecutionofsuggestedactivities.Theprocesswasdivided into two Saturdays in order to attract the widest audience; a majority of workers and students would be free and in Pica-Pau on these days. Transect Walks were scheduled for the 30th of March, and a larger Workshop was tentatively set up for the 6th of April. Tasks were designated for the organization of subsequent events; Irenaldo assumed the responsibilities of community advertising and recruitment for Transect Walk guides, and logistical planning of the larger Workshop. The technical support team agreed to purchase and supply the necessary materials, organize activities, and document proceedings68(SeeAppendixC).

67 Williamson, Theresa. Catalytic Cummunities Staff Meetings: Mar. 18, 25; Apr. 3, 10. Rio De Janeiro: n.p., 2013. Meeting Minutes.68 Da Silva, Irenaldo H. Personal interview. Rio de Janeiro, 23 Mar. 2013.

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After the formal meeting, an introductory walk through the favela was conducted with Irenaldo. Preliminary observations were made about principal infrastructural issues and opportunities; the assumed physical and socialinfrastructuraldeficitswereconfirmedassevereandintertwined.Thisinitialanalysisreinforcedtheinterconnected ecosystem and site as a client, and validated the need for a thorough, inclusive, and varied process. Each subsequent activity preserved this priority, beginning with the Transect Walks on March 30th.

5.3. Transect Walk

Transect Walks are tours of a community, guided by its own residents. These tours are used to identify community resources, assets, issues, and opportunities from an inclusive perspective. An eventual Transect Diagramismade,displayingthecommunity’sownprioritiesinageographicallyandtopicallycoherentmanner.TheobjectiveofTransectWalksistounderstandresidents’perspectiveoftheirownenvironment,andthusleveragethissite-specificknowledgeofeverydaysurroundingsintoanempoweringmappingandplanningtool69.

5.3.1. Process

Toguaranteeabroadandcomplexanalysisofthesite,awidevarietyofguideswereselected,inclusiveofallages, tenures in the favela, daily routines, and genders in order to create a variety of routes to traverse. The transects,asdefinedbytheprojectteam,wouldbedelineatedaccordingtoeachguide’sroutinepaththroughthecommunity,inordertomaximizefamiliaritywithinfrastructuralfailingsaffectingthequotidianofPica-Pau70.Irenaldoidentifiedsevenguidesinadditiontohimself,rangingfrom13to58yearsoldandconsistingof four men and four women. Resident guides had tenures in the community ranging from eight to over 40 years, including one who has lived there for her entire 13 years of life. They live throughout community, with more representation along Aricambú Street. Some community volunteers had intrinsic knowledge of the most streets, while others knew only paths along their daily routine71.

AspecificiconographywasdesignedfortheWalks,withtheintentofcapitalizingonknowledgeacquiredduringthepreviousweek’sinformalsitewalk.Iconsweredesignedforeachrecognizedinfrastructuralproblem,suchasoverflowingwastewatercatchbasins,flooding,andoccasionsoflandslides.Opportunitiesandassetsrelatedtotheseinfrastructuralcomplicationswerealsoconvertedintosymbols,suchasexistingvegetationandemptylots. Much like the community guides, these icons were designed with broad impact in mind. Simple designs communicated concepts in an easily intelligible manner; color coding allowed participants and others to quickly identify issues by category, such as water, wastewater, and solid waste systems72. Through simple and comprehensive graphics, the Transect Walk process can be easily replicated with minimal need for specialized skillsets.

OnthemorningofMarch30,2013,atechnicalteamconsistingofamapper(myself)andthreedocumentationassistantsfromCatalyticCommunitiesmetwithPica-Pau’sselectedcommunityguidestoconductaseriesofTransectWalks.Duringabriefingintothedaysactivities,adecisionwasmadebyparticipantstoabandonthe usual format of individually-guided walks, and instead conduct a single walk with all guides. The group commenced walking through Amaetinga Street and proceeded through each zone of the favela, in a methodical and sweeping path. Each path was delineated by the mapper, who noted infrastructural issues, 69 “TransectWalkandDiagramming:ProceduresandExamples.”WorldBank.N.p.,July2007.Web.06Mar.2013.<http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTTOPPSISOU/Resources/1424002-1185304794278/4026035-1185375653056/4028835-1185375678936/1_Transect_walk.pdf>.70 Da Silva, Irenaldo H. Personal interview. Rio de Janeiro, 23 Mar. 2013.71 Pica-Paucommunityresidents.“Pica-PauTransectWalk.”Personalinterview.RiodeJaneiro,30Mar.2013.72 Ponce, Leonel L. Transect Walk Iconography. 28 Mar. 2013. Raw Data. Rio de Janeiro.

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assets, and opportunities on the map as directed by the guides, using the predetermined iconography. Guides notedphysicalconditionsontheground,suchasabrokenwaterpipeoranexistingpileofgarbage;diagnosedtemporaryconditions,suchaslocalizedflooding;explainedinformaladaptationstothesechallenges,suchastheuseofwaterpumps;andidentifiedspacefordesigninterventions73. Certain locations merited more attention from the residents, whether due to a high concentration of issues or personal value to residents. At various points during the walk, resident bystanders volunteered information or were invited to contribute. These informalinterviewsinfusedtheproductwithsite-specificinformationunknowntoourguides,andledtheteamto locations outside of public streets and alleys that may present critical risks or opportunities to the Pica-Pau community.

Upon completion and documentation of the walks, I met with Irenaldo and remaining participants to discuss howthegatheredinformationshouldbeutilizedduringthefollowingweek’sworkshop.Frommysuggestion,a decision was made to review the Transect Walk process and documents with the larger workshop crowd, highlighting emergent priorities and patterns. In the week after Transect Walks, these priorities were designated withthesameiconographyasthetransectmapsandincorporatedintoaTransectDiagrammatrix74.

5.3.2. Products

Through the Transect Walk process, a series of Transect Maps were generated, documenting a democratic diagnosisofinfrastructuralissuesaffectingthePica-Paucommunity.Thesemapslocatedspecificproblemsand infrastructural trends along delineated paths through the favela. After the conclusion of the walks, priority concernsandproblemsofeachdistinctzoneandtypeofinfrastructureinthefavelawerelaidoutinamatrix,calledaTransectDiagram.Fivezonesortransectswereidentified,andplacedononeaxis;theseincludedAmaetingaStreet,“Alta”Pica-Pau(steepupperportionsofthecommunitybetweenAmaetingaandAricambú,)AricambúStreet,“Baixa”Pica-Pau(alleysinthelowerportionofthefavelabetweenAricambúStreetandtheriver,)andSchulzWenkAvenuealongtheIrajáRiver.Eachoftheseareasexhibiteddistinctproblems,and73 Pica-Paucommunityresidents.“Pica-PauTransectWalk.”Personalinterview.RiodeJaneiro,30Mar.2013.74 Ponce, Leonel L. Transect Walk Diagram. 4 Apr. 2013. Raw data. Rio De Janeiro.

Figure 5.2: A simple iconography was design for maximum intelligibility


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commonproblemsofvaryingpriority.Ontheotheraxis,infrastructurecategoriesunderanalysiswerelisted,such as water supply and quality, wastewater system, and solid waste problems. Using the Transect Walk iconography,priorityconcernsofeachzoneandinfrastructuretypewereenteredintothematrix75.

5.3.3. Initial Results

The main issues found in Amaetinga Street were a need for multiple pumps to provide water supply, the presenceofanopenstormwaterditchthatgetsfilledwithgarbageandsewage,andthedangerousflushingofstormwater during weather events. Instances of dengue fever and other mosquito and water-related diseases were plentiful at the ditch; ruptured water and wastewater pipes, suggesting possible contamination of drinking water. Sewage was dumped directly onto an empty lot behind a house, where banana trees and other vegetationindicatedpotentialforphytoremediation.Anabandonedfooddistributor’srefrigerationfacility,whichhadbeeninhabitedbysquatters,wasidentifiedasapossiblepreschoolanddaycare;itcouldincorporatepilotsustainable infrastructure projects76.

JustSouthofAmaetinga,in“Alta”Pica-Pau,similarproblemswereseen.Opensewagecombinedwithstormwater,flowingthroughstairsandalleys,andcausinglandslides.Aspointedoutbyourguides,manyof the public works built to retain the eroding hill have failed, leading to the destruction of residences. Water pumps were used to bring water to each household in an entangled network of above-ground PVC piping; a similar system was in use for sewerage. Broken pipes in both systems may be the cause of contamination, as residents claimed to drink only bottled water. Alleys and vestigial spaces accumulated garbage and sewage, with reported cases of vermin and disease77. Opportunities for intervention were available at vegetated empty lotsonsitesofrecentladslides,denominated“areasofrisk”bytheofficialMorarCariocasurvey78.

75 Ponce, Leonel L. Transect Walk Diagram. 4 Apr. 2013.76 Ponce, Leonel L., and Community Residents. Transect Walk Maps. 30 Mar. 2013. Raw data. Favela Pica-Pau, Rio De Janeiro.77 Ponce, Leonel L., and Community Residents. Transect Walk Maps. 30 Mar. 2013.78 GEORIO(RiodeJaneiroMunicipalGeotechnicalInstitute).”MorarCariocaLocalDiagnostic:Cordovil.Geological-GeotechnicalRiskReport.”

Figure 5.3: Group Transect Walk in favela Pica-Pau

Osborn, Catherine. DSC_0577. 2013. Photograph. Pica-Pau Transect Walk 23 March, Rio De Janeiro. Comp. Catalytic Communities.

Figure 5.4: Infrastructure mapping in favela Pica-Pau

Osborn, Catherine. DSC_0572. 2013. Photograph. Pica-Pau Transect Walk 23 March, Rio De Janeiro. Comp. Catalytic Communities.

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The main street and public space of Pica-Pau favela, Aricambú street, may also be its pivotal infrastructural improvementzone.Cloggedsewersandfrequentfloodinghavecausedresidentstorepeatedlyraisethefinishedfloorleveloftheirhomestoavoidconstantnuisanceandcleaning79.Theflooding,accordingtoresidents,hadgottenprogressivelyworseasaresultofpublicworksbythecityofRiodeJaneiro,specificallya new access road to Avenida Brasil that dumps water from the highway directly into the community80. Worseningtheconditionalongthisartery,combinedstormandwastewaterfloweddownfromthehillandsettled at the edges of Aricambú Street, paticularly at the end of Aricambú Alley. The polluted waters could be remedied with proper maintenance of catchbasins, which consistently have solid waste removed from them by concerned citizens81.Theflowofwatererodedthestreet’spavement.InformalwatersupplysystemsservinginhabitantsoftheupperportionsofPica-Pauaffectedthespatialqualityofthemainavenue,asexemplifiedby“TheRock,”aretainingwallcoveredwithwaterpumpssendingwatertotheupperreachesofthecommunity.Potential assets along Aricambú included improvised public spaces, illustrate of communal activity that can be leveraged to achieve an engaged resident client base.

79 Ponce, Leonel L., and Community Residents. Transect Walk Maps. 30 Mar. 2013. Raw data. Favela Pica-Pau, Rio De Janeiro.80 Pica-Paucommunityresidents.“Pica-PauTransectWalk.”Personalinterview.RiodeJaneiro,30Mar.2013.81 Ponce, Leonel L., and Community Residents. Transect Walk Maps. 30 Mar. 2013.

Figure 5.5: Portion of Transect Map of Aricambú Street and surrounding alleys, favela Pica-Pau.

Ponce, Leonel L., and Community Residents. “Pica-Pau Transect Map: Aricambú #1(30 March 2013).” Map. 2013.Print.

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ThenetworkofnarrowalleysmeandersbetweenAricambúStreetandtheIrajáRiver,or“Baixa”Pica-Pau,exhibitedsimilarproblemsasthemainavenue.Accordingtointerviewees,thelackofspacemadefloodwatersmore violent and deeper than in other areas of the favela, as evidenced by one more step in front of their homesthaninopenlow-lyingareas.Infiltrationofwaterfrombelowwasaproblemforsomeresidents,leadingto mold and possible poor air quality82.

SchultzWenkAvenue,alongtheIrajáRiver,representstheSouthernboundaryoffavelaPica-Pau.Itissituatedatthelowestelevation,nearthedestinationforthecommunity’senvironmentalpollution:theriveritself. The main problems in this zone included piles of solid waste left along the banks of the canal, and the pollutionthatpervadedthroughthecanalitself.Withhelpfromourguides,wecountedfivecombinedseweroutfallsalongtheshort1/4-kilometerborderbetweenthecommunityandtheriver83. Two large pipes appeared tobeoutfalllocationsforthecombinedsewersystemthatservesPica-Pau.TheIrajáRiveritself,thoughlined with fruit trees, emitted a constant smell of raw sewage; on hot days, according to our guides, the water

82 Pica-Paucommunityresidents.“Pica-PauTransectWalk.”Personalinterview.RiodeJaneiro,30Mar.2013.83 Ponce, Leonel L., and Community Residents. Transect Walk Maps. 30 Mar. 2013.

Figure 5.6: Transect Diagram of favela Pica-Pau’s water, wastewater, and solid waste infrastructure.

Ponce, Leonel L. “Pica-Pau Transect Diagram (30 March 2013).” Chart. 2013.Print.

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bubbles over, and people can hardly walk along the road or work due to the stench. Opportunities noted along thissectionoffavelaPica-Pauincludedconstructionfora“RiverTreatmentUnit”(UTR)alongandwithintheIrajáRiver,designedtoimprovethequalityofwaterintheGuanabaraBaydownstream84.

5.4. CommunityWorkshop

On April 6th, 2013, one week after the Transect Walks, a Community Visioning Workshop was conducted. HostedbytheMinistérioSemearChurchinneighboringBrásdePina,theeventdrewover80totalparticipants85.AseriesofactivitieswereconductedtofurtherdiagnosetheenvironmentalinfrastructuraldeficitinfavelaPica-Pau,andbegintoconceptualizepossiblevisionsforthecommunity’sfuture.

5.5. “CityasPlay”

Asattendeesenteredthehall,theywereencouragedtoengagein“CityasPlay,”aparticipatoryplanningactivity designed by American planner James Rojas. Participants walk into a room, and are asked to build their visions for a community together. Each participant or group of participants is asked to engage in free play with the objects, creating models to respond to a key question with the available materials. A discussion ensues around each model; the inclusive and playful process encourages people of all ages to participate, and bypasses some reservations people may have towards writing or drawing their ideas. The familiar, everyday objects used put players at ease, and the temporal nature of the models emphasizes that these are preliminary thoughts,notfinaldecisionstobefollowedtotheminutestdetail86.

5.5.1. Process

During the April 6th workshop, Pica-Pau residents arrived at the church to face a table piled with colorful objects, found in the households of CatComm members or purchased at popular discount market streets in the center of town. Items ranged from plastic bottles and fake plants, to popsicle sticks and colorful ribbons. AsPica-Pau’sresidentsstreamedin,theywereaskedtoplaywiththesearticles,inordertoanswerasinglequestion:

How can Pica-Pau resolve its problems, especially water, sewage, and waste?

Theactivityhappenedduringthefirsthalfhourto45minutesoftheevent,whilelatearrivalsfilledthespace.This encouraged the crowd to participate while becoming acclimated to the setting and the event. With the assistance of our technical support team, participants were encouraged to collaborate, but not required to do so.Afewmodelswerecreated;betweenfifteenandtwentyattendeesactivelyparticipated.Twolargermodelswere incrementally developed by multiple people, while 4 or 5 smaller models were worked on by individuals. Whenacriticalmassofexpectedworkshopattendeeshadarrived,“CityasPlay”participantsexplainedtheirdesigns to the group, thus initiating our discussion87.

84 Hoffmann,Sandra.“SecretariaDoAmbienteIniciaConstruçãoDaUTRDoRioIrajá.”Weblogpost.GovernoDoEstadoDoRioDeJaneiro,SecretariaDoAmbiente(RiodeJaneiroStateEnvironmentalSecretariat.)GovernoDoEstadoDoRioDeJaneiro,28Nov.2012.Web.30Apr.2013.<http://www.rj.gov.br/web/sea/exibeconteudo?article-id=1349499>.85 Silva,IrenaldoH.“CommunityVisioningWorkshopReview.”Personalinterview.6Apr.2013.86 Haas,Gilda.“JamesRojas:TheCityasPlay.”Dr.Pop.N.p.,07May2010.Web.18Feb.2013.<http://drpop.org/2010/05/james-rojas-the-city-as-play/>.87 Ponce, Leonel L., Catalytic Communities, and Pica-Pau residents. Pica-Pau Community Visioning Workshop observations. 6 Apr. 2013. Raw data.MinistérioSemearChruch,BrásDePina,RioDeJaneiro.

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5.5.2. Products

Theprimarymodelsconstructedduring“CityasPlay”interpretedspecificareasofthecommunity,SchulzWenkAvenueandAmaetingaStreet.TheformerproposedcoveringthefetidIrajáRiveranditssewageoutfallswith public green space dedicated to leisure and health activities. The latter model diagnosed a variety of problemsthroughadetailedmock-upoftheexistingcondition.Duringtheprocess,boxesandstripsofcoloredfabric and paper were quickly appropriated and transformed into buildings; markers and masking tape were usedaslabelstoexplicatetypesoffacilitiesandinfrastructures.Explicitobjectssuchassoccergoalpostsand plastic plants were preferred to abstract items like straws and popsicle sticks. Linear street scenes, not individual houses, were typical of even smaller models build by single individuals88.


The“CityasPlay”exerciseyieldedinterestingresults,asresidentsinitiallyproduceddiagnosticmodels,whichwere progressively transformed into solutions during the activity. Participants formed a kinetic design that utilizedinfrastructuralimprovementstoconstructanarrativefromaforgottenfavelawithsignificantdeficits,towardsanempowered,developed,educated,andhealthycommunity.Thefirstresidentstoengageinthisactivity were a couple of adult male residents of Schulz Wenk Avenue. Their model quickly developed into a soccerfield,anopengreenspacetheyexplainedcouldspantheIrajáRiver.Aboxlabeled“daycare”anchorsthedevelopment,andonelabeled“technicalschool”sitsadjacenttoit.Labelsforgarbagecontainersareplaced along the edge of the space, along with potted fake plants. According to its creators, covering over the Irajáresolvesamajorneedforspaceinthecommunity,andallowsfortheprovisionofamenitiescurrentlylacking inside Pica-Pau, like leisure spaces, educational facilities, and a recycling co-operatives.

The model designed for Amaetinga Street was constructed by a husband, a wife, and their child, along with a fewotherresidents.Usingadarkmat,theylaidoutalinearpavedstreetflankedbyvariousboxesdesignatedasbuildings;someofthesebuildingshaveadditionalboxesontop,demarcatedastypical“caixasd’água”for

88 Pica-Pauresidents.“CityasPlay”PhysicalModels.6Apr.2013.Rawdata.MinistérioSemearChruch,BrásDePina,RioDeJaneiro.

Figure 5.7: Workshop participants make models during the “City as Play” exercise.


Figure 5.8: Models were inspired by current diagnoses and visions for the future.

De Rose, Sarah. 100_0099. 2013. Photograph. 6 April 2013 Pica-Pau Community Visioning Workshop, Rio De Janeiro. Comp. Catalytic Communities.

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water storage. Potted plastic plants were placed along each side of the street, and a large egg carton labeled “sewage”satononeedgeofthetable.Thiscarton,claimedthemodel-makers,representedtheactofcoveringan open sewage ditch that currently runs down their street. Straws were assembled into a proposed bridge to connecting Pica-Pau to amenities on the other side of Avenida Brasil89.

5.6. Review of Transect Walks

Aftertheintroductoryactivity,residentswerepresentedwithprocessandresultsfromthepreviousweek’sTransectWalks,abriefdescriptionofthatday’sactivities,asummaryoftheiconographyandmaps,andanreport on the content of the Transect Diagram. Intended to build a sense of trust with workshop participants through transparency of overall process, this conversation yielded broader participation and a re-evaluation of community priorities. Primary among these crucial concerns was the common fear of removal. Many houses in thecommunityhavebeenmarkedforremoval,andasignificantnumberofattendeesattheworkshopthoughta representative from the city-contracted architecture would show up and perhaps be able to answer some of these questions. Instead of letting this swift change in topics derail the project, I emphasized the power of PicaPauacquiringanunderstandingofitsowninfrastructuraldeficit,aswellaslearningasetoftoolsthatcanhelpthemengageinanevendialogueanddemandspecificanswersfromcityofficials.TheresaWilliamsonstrengthened the connection between the two seemingly divergent priorities and processes, vouching to conduct a participatory housing advocacy and rights workshop at Pica-Pau in the near future90. Our willingness to engage and assimilate the most urgent concerns from community members into the participatory process enhanced its effectiveness; workshop participants were deeply engaged in following activities.

5.7. Screeningof“FavelaasaSustainableModel”

During a lunch break succeeding the Transect Walk presentation, workshop attendees were shown a screeningofCatalyticCommunity’s“FavelaasaSustainableModel.”Thisfilmservedasabridgebetweenproblems and solutions, and featured favela Pica-Pau as a representative of the infrastructural problem symptomatic of many informal communities in Rio de Janeiro. Other informal communities were shown as examplesofsustainableliving,makingtheconnectionbetweentheworkshopparticipants’currentconditionand what their future may hold91.

5.8. SustainableInfrastructuresCatalog

InordertobeinclusiveofecosystemasaclientinthevisioningofPica-Pau’spossibilities,IdesignedaSustainable Infrastructures Catalog, and presented it to community members during the workshop. This Catalog was originally conceived as a guidebook documenting various sustainable and natural wastewater infrastructuresystems,explainingtheirprincipalcharacteristics,performanceinrelationtosewage,co-benefits,restrictions to installation, costs, installation requirements, optimal conditions, etc. Each technology or project wouldbeproperlyplacedwithinadiagramshowingeachstageofsewagetreatmentanditsco-benefits;users of this guide could use the diagram to plan out how to best treat their own sewage, learning how each interventionfitintothefullsystem.Thisillustratedguidewouldexplain,inasimpleanddirectway,apathforthetransformationofacommunitythroughnaturalinfrastructuresystems(beginningwithwastewater).

89 Pica-Pauresidents.“CityasPlay”PhysicalModels.6Apr.2013.90 Ponce, Leonel L., Catalytic Communities, and Pica-Pau residents. Pica-Pau Community Visioning Workshop observations. 6 Apr. 2013.91 Sasson,E.“FavelaasaSustainableModel.”Film.CatalyticCommunities.RiodeJaneiro,May2012.

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Through conversations with my technical advisor David Seiter, it was decided that, much like the Transect Walk symbols and materials, the Sustainable Infrastructures Catalog would consist of simple bits of information, stripped down to introduce concepts and projects to community members92. While in Rio de Janeiro, it became clear to me that time constraints would not permit me to develop a detailed illustrated catalog. I set about drawingachartthatincludedafewnaturalsystemsdeemedmostappropriateforfavelaPica-Pau’ssituation,a list of their own priority issues to be resolved by each technology, the main obstacles to implementation of each, and potential projects and visions beyond the resolution of water and sanitation problems. The informationwasarrangedinamatrix,withthefollowingsystemcategoriespictured:cisterns,biofilters,greenroofs,on-gradegreeninfrastructure(bioswales/raingardens),constructedwetlands,wetlandandmangrovereclamation, septic tanks and systems, dry composting toilets, and biodigestors. Iconography from the TransectWalkswasmimickedtoensurecontinuityofgraphicallanguage.Majordifficultiespicturedincludedspace requirements for each intervention, as well as construction and maintenance labor; new opportunities identifiedencompassedurbanfarmingandgreenjobcreation93.

The abbreviated Sustainable Infrastructures Catalog was presented orally during the workshop, as participants settled into groups for the following activity. Discussion was encouraged to clarify doubts about catalog content; one resident in particular began a query about green roofs, their cost, their functionality, and the feasibility of incorporationintoaninformalsettlement.Thematrixwasthenplacedinpublicview,andmadeavailabletoWorkshop participants during the succeeding visioning activity. The catalog did not serve as the only option for residents, but as a tool that could be incorporated into community designs and visions as deemed appropriate. I volunteered to assist groups with any questions as they began the last stage of the April 6th workshop, a Community Visioning Session94.

5.9. CommunityVisioningSession

In advance of the Sustainable Infrastructures Catalog presentation, workshop participants were placed into groups according to their place of residence, and asked to envision their own futures of favela Pica-Pau. These community visions were to originate from the discussion centered around water and sanitation infrastructure, but could include any other concerns of the community. The goal of this activity was to foster an analytical, collaborative attitude amongst a community, and to emerge with major priorities and common objectives for its inclusive development.

5.9.1. Process

Participants were broken off into groups dependent on their place of residence; each table corresponded toapriorityareaidentifiedduringtheTransectWalks.Aminimumofonefacilitatorwasassignedpertable,and I moved from table to table to clarify any general or infrastructural doubts during the process. Before the beginningoftheexercise,Isatateachtableandexplainedthevisioningtaskstoitsmembers.Eachgroupwasinstructedto(1)listasetofpriorityinfrastructuralandgeneralproblemswiththeirpartofthecommunity,andPica-Pauasawhole;(2)makeacomprehensivelist,withinputfromallgroupmembers,ofcorrespondingopportunities,ideas,andsolutions;(3)prioritizetheseideasthroughaninternaldemocraticprocess,finallyillustrating how these could be implemented. Participants were encouraged to use any materials and methods necessary,includingwriting,drawing,andusingitemsformthe“CityasPlay”activity.

92 Seiter,David.Personalinterview.PrattInstitute,Brooklyn,NY,12Feb.201393 Ponce,LeonelL.SustainableInfrastructuresCatalogMatrix.5Apr.2013.Rawdata.RioDeJaneiro.94 Ponce, Leonel L., Catalytic Communities, and Pica-Pau residents. Pica-Pau Community Visioning Workshop observations. 6 Apr. 2013.

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The roundtables began discussions almost immediately after my visit to each group. Residents engaged in serious dialogue, which sometimes persisted through the presentation of the Sustainable Infrastructures Catalog. The discussion proceeded for about an hour. Some documented discussions centered around common infrastructural problems for each group members, gearing the conversation toward a group diagnosis. Some tables hosted debates about the merits of various social programs and leadership roles in ameliorating habitsandservicesaroundfailinginfrastructure,thusimprovingtheirparticipatorydeficit.Attheendofthisactivity,eachgroupelectedaspokespersontosummarizetheirprocessandfindings.Additionally,Imadeapersonal request for each speaker to evaluate the workshop and their hopes for its outcomes95.

5.9.2. Products

As indicated during the visioning workshop proceedings, each group utilized different representation techniquestoexpressavarietyofopinionsandpriorities,provideadditionaldiagnosesofproblems,andincorporatesustainable,naturalsystemsinfrastructuralsolutions(AppendixF).TheresidentsofAmaetingaproduced an enumerated list, combining social project proposals, necessary infrastructural improvements, and descriptions of problematic sites; one group member drew an image of her house, and the infrastructural problemsalongthestreet.“Alta”Pica-Pau’sroundtablecreatedanillustrateddocumentpinpointingspecific95 Ponce, Leonel L., Catalytic Communities, and Pica-Pau residents. Pica-Pau Community Visioning Workshop observations. 6 Apr. 2013.

Figure 5.9: Sustainable Infrastructure Catalog matrix, presented to Pica-Pau residents during the April 6 workshop.

Ponce, Leonel L. “Pica-Pau Sustainable Infrastructures Catalog (6 April 2013).” Chart. 2013.Print.

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infrastructural problems for the houses of all residents present; a list of priority issues was separated between water,solidwaste,andothertypesofinfrastructure;solutionswerecolorcodedforemphasis;andfinally,a manifesto emphasizing the need for continuation was written. The Aricambú Street group divided their workintoseparate“Issues”and“Solutions”pages,categorizingbyinfrastructureandlistingthepresentedSustainableInfrastructuresCatalogsystemsforreview.Participantsfrom“Baixa”Pica-Pau,likethosefromAmaetinga, wrote a succinct list of various priority issues, problematic sites, and social project proposals. WorkshopattendeesattheSchulzWenkAvenueandRioIrajátabledrewadiagrammaticplanoftheirstreet,highlighting a proposed large-scale infrastructural intervention and its intended programatic uses96.


A set of core proposals for the future of favela Pica-Pau emerged from the group sessions, incorporating physical, environmental, social, and economic assets to paint a holistic and prosperous vision for the community.Themostutopiandesignproposal,presentinthecommunity’smindfromtheinitialTransectWalkevent,wastheplantocoverupastretchoftheIrajáRivertogeneratespacefornecessarypublicspacesandamenities. In the diagram created by nearby residents, some amenities include sports courts, day care and technical schools, a public health center, solid waste collection and recycling center, as well as gardens and green space97. By appropriating a space that currently contributes negatively to the health of the community and ecosystem, and creating social and environmental assets, this proposal attempts to turn the most urgent problems of favela Pica-Pau into its most empowering and prosperous solution.

A few resident-generated interventions incorporated natural systems from the Sustainable Infrastructures Catalog.Variousproposals,inAmaetingaspecifically,includeproposalsforvegetated,greeninfrastructureinplaceofexistingimpermeableditchesandemptylots.OfparticularinterestisaproposalbytheAricambúgrouptoconstructacommunitycisternunderneaththeexistingsoccercourt98. At the entrance to the community,theplaysurfaceislocatedatahigherelevationthanasignificantportionofthefavela;installing

96 Pica-Pauresidents.CommunityVisioningSessiondocuments.6Apr.2013.Rawdata.MinistérioSemearChruch,BrásDePina,RioDeJaneiro.97 Pica-Pau residents. Community Visioning Session documents. 6 Apr. 201398 Pica-Pau residents. Community Visioning Session documents. 6 Apr. 2013.

Figure 5.10: For the Community Visioning Session, attendees were split into groups according to the location of their residence.


Figure 5.11: Workshop participants plan visions for Pica-Pau’s future.


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acisternandfiltrationsystemherecouldprovidemorereadilyaccessibleandpotablewatertothemajorityofPica-Pau’spopulation,inadditiontodetaininglargeamountsofstormwaterandreducingsomeofthepersistentflooding.

Pica-Pau’sresidentsunderstandthatalthoughthesephysicalproposalscantransformthelivelihoodoftheirfamilies and neighbors, fully functioning and sustainable projects can only be accomplished with the support of a social and economic framework. Visions for social programs shared during the workshop can serve as guidelines towards sustainable management of new, physical infrastructures and amenities. Residents of Amaetingaproposedanetworkof“streetmanagers”chargedwithcareofeachstreetthroughmanagementof programs such as cooking oil collection and recyclable sorting, in addition to establishing relationships with haulers and recyclers for environmentally responsible disposal of these products. Every group emphasized the importance of education in the commuity, not only through secondary school, but through the establishment of daycarecentersandtechnicalschoolsdesignedtooccupy,prepareanddevelopthecommunity’syouthforemploymentandcareersoutsideofcriminalactivities.TheAricambúcontingentsuggestedthatamicrofinance

Figure 5.12: Documents created by Pica-Pau residents during Community Visioning Sessions include priority infrastructure issues and solutions.

Pica-Pau community residents. “Pica-Pau Visions: Alta Pica-Pau (6 April 2013).” Drawing. 2013.Print.

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andfinancialcounselingcenterbeestablishedwiththeassistanceoftheseveralindustrialenterprisesinthearea,totrainPica-Pau’sresidentstofinancetheconstructionandmaintenanceoftheproject,aswellasgeneratenewjobsandcompanies,andmanagefamilyfinances99.

5.10. PreliminaryEvaluations&Reassessments

AllmaterialsfromPica-Pau’sParticipatorySustainableInfrastructuresplanningprocesshaveundergonepreliminary analysis, in conjunction with initial assessments of the process. While the physical products of a participatory process are invaluable and full of information, they must be assimilated into a digestible format for the purposes of gathering quantitative data. However, due to the timing of the participatory planning workshops in Rio de Janeiro and the end of my coursework, preliminary, mostly qualitative evaluations have been made ofthesedocuments.Whatfollowsisasummaryofthesefindings,aswellasgeneralreassessmentsaimedatimproving the participatory process itself.

5.10.1. Transect Walk Evaluation

While Transect Walks conducted in Pica-Pau proved successful via the collection of crucial diagnostic data, somefactorsandmodificationsintheprocess,influencedthefinalresult.Thecommunityguides’variedages,backgrounds, tenures, and routines led to an interesting array of input into the transect maps. While a group walkenhancedthecomplexityofeachtransectmap,itdidnotnecessarilyengageeachguidewiththeirmostwell-known path, as originally anticipated. Depth was a strength at the beginning of the process, due to the volume of conditions discussed by the group; but by the end of the day, only three residents remained in the group, which caused a decrease in number of data points acquired100. For the duration of the activity, however, ourguides’intimateknowledgeofthesiteanditsexistinginfrastructureprovedthevalueofcommunityinputintoanofficialsurveyingordiagnosticprocess.CleardistinctionsarosebetweentransectmapresultsandinformationcontainedinsurveymapscreatedfortheMorarCariocaproject.AnexampleofthisisthedisparityinthenumberofseweroutfalllocationsobservedintheTransectWalks(five101)andaccountedforintheofficialsurvey,withoutdirectcommunityinput(two102).

Thebreadthanddepthofenvironmentalinfrastructuraldeficitfoundduringthewalksdemonstratedthenearlycomplete failure of water, wastewater, and solid waste systems in favela Pica-Pau. In merely an afternoon ofmapping,communityguidesnotedthreesignificantopensewers(inadditiontothepollutedIrajáRiver),over50waterpumpstoamendinsufficientwatersupply,sevenareasatriskoflandslides,and16solidwastedumping sites, amongst other conditions103. Some of the guides, not privy to conditions in areas on the hillside, were vocally open about their shock at the subhuman quality of living along these alleys104. In fact, if not for informal interventions by residents like water pump installations, current dilapidated infrastructure would falter in absence of immediate public investment.

Thiscomplexmixtureofformalandinformalinterventionbecomesanobstacletosystematicimprovements;a multiplicity of interventions, materials, and conditions, visible and unknown, make the task of infrastructural upgrades and rehabilitation much more challenging. Transect Walks are an ideal tool to simplify this task,

99 Ponce, Leonel L., Catalytic Communities, and Pica-Pau residents. Pica-Pau Community Visioning Workshop observations. 6 Apr. 2013.100 Ponce, Leonel L., Catalytic Communities, and Pica-Pau residents. Pica-Pau Transect Walk observations. 6 Apr. 2013. Raw data. Rio De Janeiro.101 Ponce, Leonel L., and Community Residents. Transect Walk Maps. 30 Mar. 2013.102 ArqhosConsultoriaeProjetos.“MorarCarioca:Cordovil-DiagnósticoLocal,Cordovil.”103 Ponce, Leonel L., and Community Residents. Transect Walk Maps. 30 Mar. 2013.104 Pica-Paucommunityresidents.“Pica-PauTransectWalk.”Personalinterview.RiodeJaneiro,30Mar.2013.

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leveraging in-depth community knowledge of site to provide more data inputs into a site diagnosis, thereby facilitatingthedesignofsolutionsthattakeintoaccounthowcurrentdeficitsaffectthepopulation.Manypotentialwastewaterinfrastructuralsolutions,specificallyatascalethatcanmakeadifferenceforacommunityof2,500people,occupyvastexpansesofspace.Thelackoflargeemptylotsandotherpublicspacewithinthe community is the key physical barrier to sustainable infrastructure proposals, a condition made vividly clear during the Transect Walks.

5.10.2. Community Visioning Workshop Evaluation

ThemostplayfulportionoftheCommunityVisioningWorkshop,“CityasPlay”generatedthelowestlevelofengagement. This may have been a result of poor placement of materials, at the front of the hall, opposite from the front door; if the activity were conducted in the center of the room, timid attendees may have provided more input. Although some children participated, under a quarter of attendees played with found objects. Residents generally listened and pitched in during discussions of materials, and were especially engaged with their smallergroupsduringtheVisioningSession.Bythattime,though,onlythirty-fiveorsoparticipantsoutoftheoriginal 80 or more remained in the room, most of them women.

While full participation was not accomplished as hoped for in the design of our Community Visioning Workshop, engaged participants contributed to a seamless, cohesive, and constructive process. Testimonies attheconclusionofproceedingsdetailageneralapprovalfortheworkshop’sgroupactivities;specifically,residentswerethankfulforarareopportunitytosharestoriesandideasaboutPica-Pau’sphysicalandsocialdeficitswitheachother.Manyidentifiedtheeventasanoverduechancetopoolthefavela’sknowledgeandresources, and an enlightening view into commonalities in the lives of previously unknown neighbors. These new bonds manifested themselves in the process, with groups proposing solutions attending the needs of theentirecommunity,beyondphysicalinterventions.Examplesoftheseconceptsincluded“streetmanagers”forenvironmentalprograms,andmicrofinancingeducationandimplementation.MembersoffavelaPica-Pauintrinsically understand the necessity of a holistic approach, inclusive of environmental, economic, social, and cultural initiatives is necessary to produce actual improvements for their community, forming a supporting framework for physical development projects. Workshop participants also seemed to comprehend their responsibility to the larger community, and the need for leadership and accountability in proposing their own solutions. Various testimonies included rallying cries to begin proposed social programs as soon as possible, inordertoremedyadmittedinactiononthepartofthespeakers,theirneighbors,andgovernmentofficials.These collaborative and responsible attitudes, cultivated by the community on its own terms, made it easier to conduct the workshops and achieve impressive preliminary result, as residents bought into the process and workedtogetherwithoutdifficulty105.

Diagnosesidentifiedandsolutionsproposedbythecommunityduringworkshopactivitiestrendedtowardstwoextremes;someprojectsattemptedtoresolvespecificproblemssuchaswaterinfiltrationinindividualhouses,whileothersimaginedutopianlarge-scaleinterventionslikeamulti-usepublicspacebridgingtheIrajáRiver106. Thesedivergentproposalsshow,ontheonehand,theintimateconnectionPica-Pau’sresidentshavewiththeirhomes and infrastructural failures, and on the other, an ambitious desire to drastically improve their current

105 Ponce, Leonel L., Catalytic Communities, and Pica-Pau residents. Pica-Pau Community Visioning Workshop observations. 6 Apr. 2013.106 Pica-Pauresidents.“CityasPlay”PhysicalModels.6Apr.2013.

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condition.Inordertobridgethesetwodesires,moreparticipatoryeventsmustbeconducted.Butfirst,theactivities themselves, and the manner in which they were conducted, must be reassessed to identify possible opportunities for improvement in performance and engagement.

5.10.3. Participatory Process Reassessments

TheprimarylimitationinfavelaPica-Pau’sParticipatorySustainableInfrastructureplanningprocessasconductedwasaresultofmyinherentlyinflexibletravelandacademictimelines.Duetoavailabilitylimitations by the community and volunteers, and limitations on agenda and materials development on my part, four weeks was not enough time move beyond broad visions, qualitative data analysis, and preliminary community engagement107. These limitations prevented the recalibration of activities designed to remedy other shortcomings in the process, such as the split in demographics between a male-dominated Transect Walk and a predominantly female group during the Visioning Workshop108. Close attention must be paid to lack of representation by certain sectors of the community in each activity, and in the case of youth, in the process as a whole.

AlthoughIsetouttoisolatewastewaterinfrastructuredeficitsandphysicalnaturalsystemssolutionsthroughout my visit, participants became more engaged in the process when socioeconomic and political issues were included in the conversation. The young female Transect Walk guides were energetic in their explanationsofrecyclingprograms,andresidentsofAmaetingapassionatelyexplainedtheneedforsolidwaste pickup and resident accountability during Visioning Sessions109. To accommodate public desire to incorporate social justice and economic development goals into the infrastructural process, thereby formulating comprehensive community plans geared towards real improvement, social and legal support organizations mustbegiventheopportunitytocontribute.Similarly,employmentopportunitiesthatcanensurethefinancialsustainability of Pica-Pau and its residents could be facilitated by the presence of training and development professionals in the development of a plan. By tying long-term physical improvements with the day-to-day realities and struggles of the community can ensure wider and more meaningful participation for the continuation of the Participatory Sustainable Infrastructure planning process.

Wider engagement of the ecosystem as a client, much like its human community counterpart, is essential to moveforwardwithasustainableplanforPica-Pau.Whiletheinitialintentofthisstudywastoprovideextensiveinfrastructural analysis and proposals to use as a political and design tool, it was apparent throughout the process that crucial steps in community input, acclimating, prioritizing, and visioning must precede more technical and detailed analysis and solutions. However, these steps must not be forgotten, for they apply feasibilityandimplementationtothepotentialdiscoveredinthejustconcludedexercises.Separateworkshopsdedicatedtodeterminingproposalfeasibility,andcompilingacomprehensivevision,designingspecificinterventions, and determining monitoring, maintenance, and social programming strategies can provide a morecohesivevisionofdetailedimplementationsandtheirimpactonthecommunity.Agroupofexperiencedtechnicalexperts,suchasplanners,architects,engineers,ecologists,horticulturalists,climatologists,hydrlogists,andsoonisnecessarytodevelopthisprojectfurther.Buttheseconventionalexpertsmustbededicated to a participatory planning process, in order to advance mutual education and improve the physical projects,theknowledgebaseofPica-Pau’sresidents,andperhapsmostimportantly,givethecommunityadditionalopportunitiestocontributetothesevariousfieldswiththeirownknowledge.107 Appelbaum, Alec. Personal conversations. Online. Apr. 2013.108 Ponce, Leonel L., Catalytic Communities, and Pica-Pau residents. Pica-Pau Community Visioning Workshop observations. 6 Apr. 2013.109 Pica-Paucommunityresidents.“Pica-PauCommunityVIsioningWorkshop.”Personaltestimonies.RiodeJaneiro,6Apr.2013.

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6. Implementation

Improvements can and should be made in the Participatory Sustainable Infrastructure process, especially as it continues, advancing the empowerment of the community and improvement of its physical, environmental, sociopolitical, and socioeconomic situation. But for this strategy to take hold, and lead to fruitful improvements inresidents’lives,actualsolutionsmustbeimplemented.AsKellyChristina,aresidentofthehillysectionsofthecommunityinmostdireneedofimprovements,exclaimedduringtheworkshop:

We want to continue beyond April 6th, 2013.

We want to go beyond paper, beyond projects.

WE WANT SOLUTIONS!110

110 DeJesus,KellyC.T.“Pica-PauCommunityVisioningWorkshop.”PersonalTestimony.6Apr.2013.MinistérioSemearChruch,BrásDePina,Rio De Janeiro.

Figure 6.1:Flexible strategies for implementation give more options to the residents of Pica-Pau


MORAR CARIOCA PROCESS

PARTICIPATORY + SUSTAINABLEPROCESS

INCORPORATION

COMMUNITY-BUILTINDIVIDUAL PROJECTS

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6.1. Continuity

Real solutions for favela Pica-Pau, in the form of implementation of projects and programs, and measurable improvements in the quality of life of its residents, will not come without continuity of the participatory process inclusive of natural systems. After initial evaluation of the concluded activities, it became clear that while flawed,theworkshopandparticipatorysettingprovidedtheoptimalmechanismforfutureengagementthecommunity.

6.1.1. Continued Community Engagement

During discussions within the Community Visioning Workshop, the fear of housing removals symptomatic of current actions by the city of Rio de Janeiro came to the forefront as a primary concern of residents. Theresa Williamson volunteered to conduct a workshop on housing rights and strategies to combat displacement, with the technical support of housing movement advocates and public defenders. This session has been developed to be deployed throughout the city as part of an initiative by a coalition of social justice advocates from the whole state of Rio de Janeiro, called Casa Fluminense; it provides a crucial opportunity to continue engagementwithourcommunityclientinPica-Pau.PreservingaworkingrelationshipwiththeResidents’Association and individual citizens is essential to moving the Participatory Sustainable Infrastructures process forward, and this workshop tentatively scheduled for May of 2013 is an opportunity to do so while engaging broader, urgent social concerns.

Springboarding from this event, a series of meetings, workshops, and community sessions can galvanize the community and move the process towards implementable solutions. Through proper scheduling and phasing, we hope to introduce components of the project and process in an intelligible and educational manner, to provide mutual education and empowerment opportunities along with palpable project evolution. Also in the middle of 2013, the technical team will host a meeting to review and revisit community visions with residents. The team will present a fully developed and analyzed set of data from the March and April 2013 events, denote possiblefeasibilityandtechnicalconcerns,andshowsomecasestudiesofvisionsthatexpandonprioritiespreviously demonstrated by community members. The following event, a Natural Systems Design Workshop, will elaborate on the preliminary Sustainable Infrastructures Catalog document, providing detailed technical information in a format that can be easily understood and applied by residents. A construction component can be incorporated into this event, in order to provide tangible evidence of progress in the community, and inspiration for further community-built interventions.

After a period of data compilation and synthesis, a set of events and working sessions will be organized to create a Sustainable Pica-Pau Comprehensive Community Plan, towards the end of this year. The scope of the planwilldependonthescopeofexperimentationofthedesignworkshops.Similarplanshavebeenformulatedby some favelas in Rio de Janeiro, with the support of academic and non-governmental institutions111. This comprehensive plan would include social and economic frameworks for project implementation, taking into account the community and environmental assets and challenges of the community. In early 2014, we plan to run Maintenance and Monitoring Workshops, directed towards stewardship of pilot constructions established during the Design Workshop. These sessions will demonstrate to citizens of Pica-Pau how they can properly maintain sustainable infrastructure projects, showcasing actual projects in the community as case-studies.

111 Plano Popular Da Vila Autódromo: Plano De Desenvolvimento Urbano, Econômico, Social, E Cultural. Rep. Rio De Janeiro: Associação De MoradoresEPescadoresDaVilaAutódromo,2012.RioSemRemoções.ComitêPopularCopaEOlimpíadasRio,15Aug.2012.Web.22Dec.2012.<http://www.portalpopulardacopa.org.br/vivaavila/>.

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Monitoringofsystemperformanceandco-benefitswillbeintroducedtothecommunity,providingapossibleadvocacytooltoshowgovernmentofficialstheprovenpotentialofParticipatorySustainableInfrastructuresinan underserved community.

6.1.2. Additional Partnerships

The preceding workshops maintain the community invested, and builds collective knowledge and power, but canonlyproperlyfunctionwithastrategicandextensivenetworkofpartnerships.ThisstartswithorganizationsthathavealreadyshownsignificantinterestandinvestmentintheprojectandfavelaPica-Pau.CatalyticCommunitieshasdemonstratedinterestinusingtheproject’sparticipatoryprocessintheirfuturework,inaddition to including its activities in an Favela Community Development Toolkit currently in its nascent stages. TheresaWilliamsonhasvolunteeredtheorganization’sservicesintheadministrationandapplicationoffutureworkshops, in addition to its own Housing Rights and Removals Workshop scheduled for this May. Community development NGO iBase, former collaborators on the Morar Carioca social accountability project112, can provide a wealth of demographic, social, and cultural information about the Pica-Pau favela. Their participation couldalsomeananinfluxofplanningprofessionalswithextensiveexperienceinparticipatoryprocessesnecessary for future events; initial contact has been made between iBase and Catalytic Communities, and canhopefullybenurturedintoaworkingrelationship.Arqhos,thearchitectureandplanningfirmthatmanagesthemunicipality’sMorarCariocaprojectinCordovilandPica-Pau,isanotherpossiblepartner;throughmy112 Grzybowski,Cândido,andItamarSilva.LettertoResidentsofGrouping16ofMorarCariocaProgram(Cordovil).21Feb.2013.MS.RioDeJaneiro, RJ. On behalf of iBase.

Figure 6.2:Current and future partnerships, leveraged at each stage of the Morar Carioca process, are necessary to maintain progress in the Participatory Sustainable Infrastructures project for favela Pica-Pau.


RFP+

BIDS

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CATCOMM

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TIBA INSTITUTE

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initialmeetingswiththedesignteam,thefirmexpressedinterestinincorporatingcommunityinputintotheirofficialproposals.TheirdocumentationandsurveysfacilitateddiagnosticexercisesthisMarch;continuedcollaboration between Arqhos and the Participatory Sustainable Infrastructures team could promote feasible resultsmoreintunewithrealisticconditions,leadingtomutualbenefitsfortheprofessionalsandresidents.

Toexpandtheimpactandinnovativepotentialofthisproject,newpartnershipsmustbeformedwithavarietyof actors that can work to produce cohesive solutions with our community and ecosystem clients. Advocates ofurbanequityandcommunitydevelopment,suchaspublicdefenders,ColumbiaUniversity’sStudio-XRio,and local universities UFRJ and PUC can facilitate workshops, provide technical support or data, and engage with the general public and government agencies on public policy utilizing information gleaned form the process. Environmentally sustainable design and planning actors working in and around RIo de Janeiro, such asTibáInstitute,theInstituteofBrazilianArchitects(IAB),thelocalbotanicalgardens,greenroofproponentsEcoTelhado,andSolarCITIESBiogas,canprovidetechnicalexpertisetofacilitatedesignworkshops,charrettes, and construction projects; advancing the project from conception to physical installations that rehabilitate the local ecosystem.

Outside collaborations can enhance the overall quality and feasibility of a Participatory Sustainable Infrastructures project, but the principal and only crucial bond is that of the community and ecosystem, our twoclientbases.ContinuedsupportoftheprojectfromtheResidents’Association,aswellasotherlocalorganizations, is critical to the continuation of the initiative. Furthermore, and increasingly equitable model of participation can be established within Pica-Pau, to increase engagement between distinct events run by outsiders. The creation of a Sustainable Development Community Council would accomplish this and other important objectives: members could demand accountability from the technical team, provide consistent on-the-ground presence, and claim ownership of the project. Social programs suggested and developed during the formal participatory process can be advanced by this entity, providing a model for community-based project managementtocomplementtheworkofIrenaldoandtheResidents’Association.Continuousengagementofandbycommunitymemberswillraiseawarenesslevelsinrelationtoenvironmentaldeficitsandnaturalsolutionsinthefavela,potentiallypredicatingamoresymbioticrelationshipbetweenPica-Pau’secosystemsand community member.

6.1.3. Funding

Financing these future endeavors will require creative aggregation of a variety of funding opportunities. During our last meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Theresa and Williamson and I discussed the possibility of countinuing the Participatory Sustainable Infrastructures work, and possible funding streams to run more workshops and payinternsproperly.CrowdsourcingviaKickstarterorotherplatformsisanoption,whichwouldrequireavisually engaging story in the form of a video illustrating the challenges, opportunities, and previous workshops explainedabove,inadditionstoaplanforfutureengagementandimplementation.Foundationfundingmayalso be available for the entire project, perhaps through UN-HABITAT. Additionally, future partners may have fundingtoconductspecificprojects,whichcanbeplacedwithinourprocessinPica-Pau.

6.1.4. Flexibility of Implementation

As delineated above, many routes can be undertaken in the organization of future participatory processes for favelaPica-Pau.Flexibility,asevidencedduringmyvisittothecommunity,iscrucialtoanyplansintherapidlychanging social, political, environmental, and economic landscape of Rio de Janeiro. Thus, it is imperative to

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applyastrategyofflexiblepathstoprojectimplementation.theParticipatorySustainableInfrastructurewasoriginally intended to provide communities with a comprehensive infrastructural plan that could be inserted as a standard component of the Morar Carioca development process. Although this technique is still a plausible waytomovetowardsexecutionofproposals,especiallywithacollaborativepartnerinArqhos,asustainableplan of implementation must look at other options. One possibility is to employ this comprehensive plan as an advocacy tool, a counter-proposal to be pursued by the community itself, and leveraged in the courtroom todemandaccountabilityoftheMorarCariocacharter’sparticipatoryrequirements113 and legislative housing rightsprovisions.Yetevenaparallelplan,oncecomprehensive,becomesbulkyanddifficulttopassandbringto fruition in its entirety. Thus it is crucial that a modular infrastructure plan is proposed, built through phased individualprojectsthatprovetheefficacyandpertinenceofParticipatorySustainableInfrastructures.Breakingdown the plan into smaller and more manageable projects allows individual residents to proceed with their own interventions, or community-led endeavors, incentivizing the Pica-Pau community to take charge of its own future.

6.2. Replicability

In embracing the Participatory Sustainable Infrastructure planning process, favela Pica-Pau has embarked on a path to approach its potential as a sustainable community. This community can become a prototype and inspiration for other informal communities in Rio de Janeiro, and beyond. Its current condition demonstrates the severity of socioeconomic and sociopolitical disparities in the city, which has led to severe environmental and participatorydeficitsininfrastructure.Ifaninformalcommunity,sounderservedandatsuchhighenvironmentalrisk, can transform itself by leveraging its own assets, then other populations can themselves take on similar endeavors. Urban migration around the world has instigated analogous conditions throughout the developing world,producingsimilaropportunitiesforsustainableandparticipatoryinterventions.Thispopulationinflux,while straining resources, also provides a human community that is knowledgeable of natural systems and understandingoftheneedtocoexistwithecosystems.ThroughthereplicationofParticipatorySustainableInfrastructureprojects,emulatingfavelaPica-Pau’stransformationcanbeaccomplishedbyleveragingthesignificantandvariedassetsofinformalcommunities.Bymultiplyingtheimpactofnaturalsystemssolutionsthrough participatory process across a multitude of communities, understanding and referencing inspiring precedents such as Pica-Pau, informal communities can take control of their place in the urban realm: from a principal purported cause of environmental and socioeconomic degradation in urban centers, to catalysts for holistic solutions to the challenges posed by 21st century cities. Participatory Sustainable Infrastructures in Pica-Paucanimprovethequalityoflifeofresidentsthroughexistingassetsandcollaboration,whileengagingwithecosystemstoprovideanexampleforholistic,sustainablesolutionsthatisreplicablearoundtheworld.

113 MunicipalityofRiodeJaneiro.“DecretoNº36388de29deOutubrode2012.”

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7. Bibliography

7.1. References

ArqhosConsultoriaeProjetos.“MorarCarioca:Cordovil-DiagnósticoLocal,Cordovil.”Report.RiodeJaneiro,Brazil: 2012.

“AtlanticForest(MataAtlântica).”ConservationInternational.N.p.,n.d.Web.05May2013.<http://www.conservation.org/where/priority_areas/hotspots/south_america/Atlantic-Forest/Pages/default.aspx>.

Campêlo,Gabriela.“BIDVaiEmprestarUS$452MilhõesParaMelhorarEsgotoNaBaíaDeGuanabara.”Weblogpost.AmbientalSustentável.N.p.,24Nov.2011.Web.20Dec.2012.<http://ambientalsustentavel.org/2011/bid-vai-emprestar-us-452-milhoes-para-melhorar-esgoto-na-baia-de-guanabara/>.

Carneiro, Alcides; Santos, Luca; Miranda, Ricardo. “Série Histórica de Indices Pluvométricos das 32 Estações daCidadedoRiodeJaneiro,2000-2010.”IPP(RIodeJaneiroCityPlanningDepartment).RiodeJaneiro,Oct.2012. Web. 20 Apr. 2013.

Carter,Kacey.“HaveráUmDesastre,EaPrefeituraSabe.”Weblogpost.RioOnWatch.Ed.RoseliFranco.CatalyticCommunities,01Aug.2012.Web.20Dec.2012.<http://rioonwatch.org.br/?p=3397>.

“CatCommToday.”CatalyticCommunities.CatalyticCommunities,2012.Web.06May2013.<http://www.catcomm.org/en/?page_id=57>

Cavallieri, Fernando, and Soraya Oliveira. A Melhoria Das Condições De Vida De Habitantes De AssentamentosPrecáriosNoRioDeJaneiro.Issuebriefno.20061202.RioDeJaneiro,Brazil:IPP(RiodeJaneiroCityPlanningDepartment),2006.ColeçãoEstudosCariocas.Web.30Jan.2013.<http://www.armazemdedados.rio.rj.gov.br/arquivos>.

CityofGod(CidadeDeDeus).Dir.KátiaLundandFernandoMeirelles.O2Filmes,2002.DVD.

Cummings,Jason.“ConfrontingtheFavelaChic:GentrificationofInformalSettlementsinRioDeJaneiro,Brazil.”Thesis.HarvardUniversityGraduateSchoolofDesign,DepartmentofUrbanPlanningandDesign,2013. Personal FTP Site. Jason Cummings, Apr. 2013. Web. 29 Apr. 2013.

Dorado,RexyJ.,JonathanO’Farrell,NicholasO’Farrell,andIsabelleRobinson.“VisittoPica-PauinCordovil:PhotoAlbum.”Flickr.CatalyticCommunities,23June2012.Web.20Feb.2013.<http://www.flickr.com/photos/catcomm/sets/72157630259675482/with/7432105224/>.

FavelaasaSustainableModel.Dir.EmilySasson.Youtube.CatalyticCommunities,26June2012.Web.20Apr.2013.<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sT8rhhbCUA>.

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FundaçãoCentroDeCiênciasEEducaçãoSuperioràDistânciaDoEstadoDoRioDeJaneiro.“Macrobacias,Microbacias,Sub-bacias,RiosECanais.”Lectures.GeologiaEHidrografiaDaCidadeDoRioDeJaneiro.Ed.RondonM.Fatá.20May2006.Web.06May2013.<http://www.educacaopublica.rj.gov.br/oficinas/geologia/hidrografia_rj/14.html>.

GEORIO(RiodeJaneiroMunicipalGeotechnicalInstitute).“MorarCariocaLocalDiagnostic:Cordovil.Geological-GeotechnicalRiskReport.”Report.RiodeJaneiro,Dec.2012.

Grimm,NancyB.“GlobalChangeandtheEcologyofCities.”Science319(2008):756-59.Science.AmericanAssociation for the Advancement of Science, 8 Feb. 2008. Web. 25 Nov. 2011. <www.sciencemag.org>.

Grzybowski, Cândido, and Itamar Silva. Letter to Residents of Grouping 16 of Morar Carioca Program (Cordovil).21Feb.2013.MS.RioDeJaneiro,RJ.OnbehalfofiBase.

GuidelinesfortheDesignandConstructionofStormwaterManagementSystems.Rep.NewYorkCityDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection,July2012.Web.26Jan.2013.<http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/green_infrastructure/stormwater_guidelines_2012_final.pdf>.

Haas,Gilda.“JamesRojas:TheCityasPlay.”Dr.Pop.N.p.,07May2010.Web.18Feb.2013.<http://drpop.org/2010/05/james-rojas-the-city-as-play/>.

Hoffmann,Sandra.“SecretariaDoAmbienteIniciaConstruçãoDaUTRDoRioIrajá.”Weblogpost.GovernoDoEstadoDoRioDeJaneiro,SecretariaDoAmbiente(RiodeJaneiroStateEnvironmentalSecretariat.)GovernoDoEstadoDoRioDeJaneiro,28Nov.2012.Web.30Apr.2013.<http://www.rj.gov.br/web/sea/exibeconteudo?article-id=1349499>.

IBGE(BrazilianInstituteofGeographyandStatistics).“CensoDemográfico2010:AglomeradosSubnormais.”Report. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 2010.

InstitutoPereiraPassos.“MapasDigitaisDoRioDeJaneiro.”Map.MunicipalityofRioDeJaneiro,2012.Web.18Feb.2013.<http://portalgeo.rio.rj.gov.br/ipp_viewer/?config=config/ipp/cadlog.xml>.

Jensen, Lois, ed. The Millennium Development Goals Report 2011. Rep. United Nations, 6 July 2011. Web. 15 Apr.2013.<http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/>.

Keohane,NathanielO.,andSheilaM.Olmstead.MarketsandtheEnvironment.Washington,DC:Island,2007.Print.

Magalhães,Sérgio.“MinhaCasaNoPaísDoCarroZero.”OGlobo.N.p.,27Apr.2013.Web.28Apr.2013.<http://oglobo.globo.com/opiniao/minha-casa-no-pais-do-carro-zero-8223777>.

Magalhães,Sérgio.“SobreaDemocratizaçãoDeCidade.AExperiênciaDaPolíticaHabitacionalDoRioDeJaneiro.”Urbanismo:DossiêSãoPaulo-RioDeJaneiro.CampinasandRioDeJaneiro,Brazil:PUC-Campinas/PROURB-UFRJ,2003.113-36.Print.

Muniz,Erivelton.“ArquitetosApresentamDiagnósticoDoComplexoDeFavelasCordovil.”InstitutoDeArquitetosDoBrasil–RioDeJaneiro.IAB-RJ,15Jan.2013.Web.30Jan.2013.<http://www.iabrj.org.br/morarcarioca/2013/01/arquitetos-apresentam-diagnostico-do-complexo-de-favelas-cordovil/>.

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MinistérioDoMeioAmbiente(BrazilianEnvironmentalMinistry).“MapaDaÁreaDeAplicaçãoDaLeiN°11.428De2006.”Map.N.p.,2012.Web.20Apr.2013.<http://www.mma.gov.br/images/arquivos/biomas/mata_atlantica/mapa_mata_atlantica_lei_11428_2006_e_decreto6660_2008.pdf>.

MinistérioDoMeioAmbiente(EnvironmentalMinistry).SNSA(NationalSecretariatofEnvironmentalSanitation).PlanoNacionalDeSaneamentoBásico-PLANSAB.Comp.VivianaSimon,NormaL.Carvalho,andSérgioA.Gonçalves.N.p.,2June2012.Web.12Feb.2013.<http://www.mma.gov.br/cidades-sustentaveis/residuos-solidos/instrumentos-da-politica-de-residuos/plano-nacional-de-saneamento-basico>.

Nelson, M., F. Cattin, M. Rajendran, and L. Hafouda. “Value-adding through Creation of High Diversity Gardens and Ecoscapes in Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands: Case Studies in Algeria and Australia ofWastewaterGardens®Systems.”Lecture.IIthInternationalConferenceonWetlandSystemsforWaterPollution Control. Vikram University, Indore, India. Nov. 2008. Wastewater Gardens. Wastewater Gardens ®, 30Nov.2008.Web.12Feb.2013.<http://www.wastewatergardens.com/2en_papers.html>.

Nelson,Mark;H.T.Odum,M.T.Brown,andA.Alling.““LivingofftheLand”:ResourceEfficiencyofWetlandWastewaterTreatment.”AdvancesinSpaceResearch27.9(2001):1547-556.WastewaterGardens.WastewaterGardens®,26Sept.2001.Web.12Feb.2013.<http://www.wastewatergardens.com/2en_papers.html>.

Nelson, Mark, Robyn Tredwell, Andrzej Czech, Gove Depuy, Made Suraja, and Florence Cattin. “Worldwide Applications of Wastewater Gardens and Ecoscaping: Decentralised Systems Which Transform Sewage from ProblemtoProductive,SustainableResource.”Lecture.InternationalConferenceonDecentralisedWaterandWastewater Systems. Murdoch University, Fremantle, Australia. July 2006. Wastewater Gardens. Wastewater Gardens®,28May2006.Web.12Feb.2013.<http://www.wastewatergardens.com/2en_papers.html>.

Neuwirth,Robert.ShadowCities:ABillionSquatters,aNewUrbanWorld.NewYork:Routledge,2006.Print.

Osborn,Catherine.“AHistoryofFavelaUpgradesPartIII:MorarCariocainVisionandPractice(2008–Present).”Weblogpost.RioOnWatch.CatalyticCommunities,02Apr.2013.Web.28Apr.2013.<http://rioonwatch.org/?p=8136>.

Pilote,Sarah.“Solidarityvs.Individualism:ThePowerofMutirão.”Weblogpost.RioOnWatch.CatalyticCommunities,26Sept.2011.Web.03May2013.<http://rioonwatch.org/?p=1762>.

Plano Popular Da Vila Autódromo: Plano De Desenvolvimento Urbano, Econômico, Social, E Cultural. Rep. Rio De Janeiro: Associação De Moradores E Pescadores Da Vila Autódromo, 2012. Rio Sem Remoções. ComitêPopularCopaEOlimpíadasRio,15Aug.2012.Web.22Dec.2012.<http://www.portalpopulardacopa.org.br/vivaavila/>.

Ponce,LeonelL.“CableCarSystemCrownsUrbanRevitalizationProjectinRiodeJaneiro’sAlemãoFavelas.”Weblogpost.Inhabitat,N.p.07Oct.2011.Web.20Apr.2013.<http://inhabitat.com/cable-car-system-crowns-urban-revitalization-project-in-rio-de-janeiros-alemao-favela-complex/3/>.

PrefeituradoRiodeJaneiro(RiodeJaneiroMunicipality).“DecretoNº36388de29deOutubrode2012.”MorarCariocaCharter.DiárioOficialdoMunicípiodoRiodeJaneiro(OfficialDiaryoftheMunicipalityofRiodeJaneiro);yearXXVI,No155,30October2012:p.4-9.

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SecretariaMunicipaldeHabitaçãodoRiodeJaneiro(MunicipalHousingSecretariat).“MorarCarioca:ConheçaoPrograma.”Web.15Mar.2013.<http://www.rio.rj.gov.br/web/smh/exibeconteudo?article-id=1451251>.

Tredwell, Robyn, and Mark Nelson. “Effective Approaches for Environmental & Wastewater Management and Training–TheBirdwoodDownsCaseStudiesintheKimberleyRegionofWestAustralia.”Lecture.Conferenceon Sustainability of Indigenous Communities. Murdoch University Environmental Technology Centre, Perth, Australia.July2006.WastewaterGardens.WastewaterGardens®,24Mar.2010.Web.12Feb.2013.<http://www.wastewatergardens.com/2en_papers.html>.

Valladares, Licia. Social Science Representations of Favelas in Rio De Janeiro: A Historical Perspective. Visiting Professor Paper. Austin, TX: Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies, 2009. LANIC- University ofTexas.Web.30Apr.2013.<http://lanic.utexas.edu/project/etext/llilas/vrp/valladares.pdf>.

“WhiteMartins-FábricaDeEquipamentosCriogênicos(FEC)(RioDeJaneiro).”Map.WikiMapia.N.p.,n.d.Web.05May2013.<http://wikimapia.org/6900962/pt/White-Martins-Fábrica-de-Equipamentos-Criogênicos-FEC>.

Wiliamson,Theresa.“FavelasattheVanguard:RethinkingOurAssumptionsinSustainableDevelopment.”PrattInstitute,Brooklyn,NY.24Oct.2012.Lecture.

WorldBank.“TransectWalkandDiagramming:ProceduresandExamples.”N.p.,July2007.Web.06Mar.2013.<http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTTOPPSISOU/Resources/1424002-1185304794278/4026035-1185375653056/4028835-1185375678936/1_Transect_walk.pdf>.

7.2. Raw Data

Appelbaum, Alec. Personal conversations. Online. April 2013.

Da Silva, Irenaldo H. Personal interview. Rio de Janeiro, 23 Mar. 2013.

DaSilva,IrenaldoH.“CommunityVisioningWorkshopReview.”Personalinterview.6Apr.2013.

DeJesus,KellyC.T.Pica-PauCommunityVisioningWorkshop.PersonalTestimony.6Apr.2013.MinistérioSemearChruch,BrásDePina,RioDeJaneiro.

Pica-Pauresidents.“CityasPlay”PhysicalModels.6Apr.2013.Rawdata.MinistérioSemearChruch,BrásDePina, Rio De Janeiro.

Pica-Pau residents. Community Visioning Session documents. 6 Apr. 2013.

Pica-Paucommunityresidents.“Pica-PauCommunityVIsioningWorkshop.”Personaltestimonies.RiodeJaneiro, 6 Apr. 2013.

Pica-Paucommunityresidents.“Pica-PauTransectWalk.”Personalinterviews.RiodeJaneiro,30Mar.2013.

Ponce,LeonelL.SustainableInfrastructuresCatalogMatrix.5Apr.2013.Rawdata.RioDeJaneiro.

Ponce, Leonel L. Transect Walk Diagram. 4 Apr. 2013. Raw data. Rio De Janeiro.

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Ponce, Leonel L. Transect Walk Iconography. 28 Mar. 2013. Raw Data. Rio de Janeiro.

Ponce, Leonel L., Catalytic Communities, and Pica-Pau Community Residents. Pica-Pau Community Visioning Workshopobservations.6Apr.2013.Rawdata.MinistérioSemearChruch,BrásDePina,RioDeJaneiro.

Ponce, Leonel L., and Pica-Pau Community Residents. Transect Walk Maps. 30 Mar. 2013. Raw data. Favela Pica-Pau, Rio De Janeiro.

Seiter,David.Personalinterview.PrattInstitute,Brooklyn,NY,12Feb.2013

Williamson, Theresa. Telephone Interview. Dec. 2012.

Williamson, Theresa. Catalytic Cummunities Staff Meetings: Mar. 18, 25; Apr. 3, 10. Rio De Janeiro: n.p., 2013. Meeting Minutes.

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AppendicesAppendixA:VisitandWorkshopAgenda

Leonel Lima Ponce Pratt Institute PSPD MS in UESM: Demonstration of Professional Competence, Spring 2013 Community Workshop Proposal: 12 March, 2013

1

Participatory Sustainable Infrastructures: Pica-Pau, Cordovil, Rio de Janeiro Community Events and Organizing Meetings Proposal

1. prior to visit to Rio de Janeiro March 6-8 (on one day, teleconference)

*review of initial proposal, with Theresa Williamson of Catalytic Communities *call to Irenaldo Honório da Silva of Pica-Pau, to arrange logistics

March 6-17

*continued development of methods and materials for workshops 2. in Rio de Janeiro March 18-20 (one day event, on most feasible day for participants)

Organizing Meeting 1: Strategizing with Catalytic Communities Goals: Assess workshop content/schedule for feasibility, capacity, coordination, challenges Establish additional partners/volunteers Establish conduct guidelines to respect the client and community Assess possible outcomes and deliverables of project Establish primary stance on municipal government, existing redevelopment project

Allotted time: 2-3 hrs.

Participants: Leonel Lima Ponce, student, Pratt Institute Theresa Williamson, Executive Director, Catalytic Communities (?) Roseli Franco, Institutional Director, Catalytic Communities

Catherine Osborn, Morar Carioca Intern, Catalytic Communities staff members, Catalytic Communities staff members, interested collaborators

Outcomes: Draft agendas for all events List of possible volunteers to call Draft concepts of final deliverables and outcomes

*individual meetings with interested volunteers (all days) March 20-22 (events on one or two separate days, depending on availability/weather)

Community Event 1: Planning Meeting with Residents' Association/Community Resource Map Goals: Introduce team members and client community Establish general community issues & priorities Align project goals with community goals Schedule subsequent community events Identify community members to guide Transect Walks Revise stance on municipal government and existing redevelopment project Review possibility of acquiring geotechnical and infrastructural surveys from City

Allotted time: 3-3.5 hrs.

Participants: Leonel Lima Ponce, student, Pratt Institute Irenaldo Honório da Silva, President, Pica-Pau Residents' Association members, Pica-Pau Residents' Association

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2

(?) Theresa Williamson, Executive Director, Catalytic Communities (?) Roseli Franco, Institutional Director, Catalytic Communities

Catherine Osborn, Morar Carioca Intern, Catalytic Communities

Description: Part A: Introductory and Planning Meeting (1 hr.) 1. Participant Introductions

2. Leonel to present general idea for project 3. Pica-Pau members to discuss related issues (sanitation, infrastructure, Morar Carioca, etc)

coffee break

Part B: Preliminary Community Mapping and Transect Walk Preparation (1-1.5 hrs.) 1. Leonel to explain Transect Walks 2. Group to generate preliminary Community Infrastructure/Resource Maps 3. Goup to determine preliminary routes to be taken on Walks 4. Group to identify potential resident guides/local analysts for Walks 5. Group to determine logistics for Walks

Part C: Visioning Workshop Preparation (1-1.5 hrs.) 1. Leonel to explain different components of workshop, goals 2. Group to determine most feasible and effective tools to use 3. Group to determine logistics for Workshop 4. Group to determine outreach strategy for Workshop participants

Outcomes: Schedule of Community Events List of Transect Walk resident guides, routes, ad symbols Preliminary Community Infrastructure/Resource Maps

List of Volunteers for Visioning Workshop List of Materials to procure for Visioning Workshop

Workshop Agenda Community Event 2: Transect Walks Goals: Understand scope of sanitation infrastructural issues and opportunities in Pica-Pau

Understand other infrastructural issues and opportunities in Pica-Pau Learn residents' perspective of their community, infrastructure, and related issues

Empower residents as valid participants in dialogue and information gathering

Allotted time: 4-8 walks, 45 min. - 1hr. per walk

Participants: Leonel Lima Ponce, student, Pratt Institute (facilitator/photography) 5-8 Pica-Pau residents (guides/local analysts) Irenaldo Honório da SIlva, President, Pica-Pau Residents' Association (guide) volunteer 1: video/photography (C. Osborn / CatComm comm. journalism intern?) volunteer 2: notes/facilitator (C. Osborn / planning/architecture/engineering student?)

Description: Part A: Transect Walks Transect Walks are tours of a community, guided by its own residents. These tours are used to identify community resources, assets, issues, and opportunities from an inclusive perspective. From a previously agreed upon community map, various routes and local "community analysts" guides are chosen. Using a list of symbols, and with the help of facilitators and note takers, the community analysts point out various specific physical and social aspects of their environment, stopping at key features and borders of the community and/or zones to record distances and impressions.

1. Quick introductions/explanation of process 2. Transect Walk 3. Review of Walk 4. Quick Draft Transect Diagram (time allowing)

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3

Part B: Transect Diagram (made after all walks are completed) Prepare an illustrative diagram of the walk using the information gathered. On the top, show the different zones identified by the guides. Down the side, list the features and areas of interest (plants, land use, problems, drainage system, and so on) and then fill in the details of what was observed.

Materials: Large sheets of paper (Leonel) Markers/pens (Leonel) Notebooks (Leonel) Cameras: photo/film (Leonel, Catalytic Communities)

Outcomes: Footage / Recording of Transect Walks Field Notes

Transect Diagram Revised Community Infrastructure/Resource Maps

March 24-25 (all days)

*compose transect diagrams and revise community resource maps *analyze information gained from Transect Walks *individual meetings with interested volunteers *research visits for more site and systems information

March 26-28 (one day event, on most feasible day for participants; optionally via teleconference, individually)

Organizing Meeting 2: Workshop Planning w/ Volunteers/Facilitators Objectives: Analyze information gained from Transect Walks

Finalilze details of Workshops Brief volunteer facilitators on roles for workshop

Allotted Time: 2-3 hrs. Participants: Leonel Lima Ponce, student, Pratt Institute

Irenaldo Honório da Silva, President, Pica-Pau Residents' Association volunteers/facilitators Theresa Williamson, Executive Director, Catalytic Communities Roseli Franco, Institutional Director, Catalytic Communities

Outcomes: Final Workshop Agenda Final Volunteer Facilitator List FInal Materials List and associated tasks

March 26-28 or April 2-3 (one-day event, on best day for community)

Organizing Meeting 3: pre-Workshop Briefing/Prep with Community Leaders & Volunteers Objectives: Prepare Visioning Workshop

Brief volunteer facilitators on roles for workshop Finalilze details of Workshops

Allotted Time: 1 hr.

Participants: Leonel Lima Ponce, student, Pratt Institute Irenaldo Honório da Silva, President, Pica-Pau Residents' Association (?) Catherine Osborn, Morar Carioca Intern, Catalytic Communities volunteers/facilitators

Description: Set up necessary materials for "City as Play" Workshop Prepare room for participants Divide up tasks/groups for Design & Visioning Workhop

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4

Community Meeting 3: Visioning Workshop Objectives: Refine community description of resources, assets, issues, opportunities

Diagnose common issues and biggest challenges Understand residents' broad visions for the community Show residents possible systems/components that may be incorporated into visions With residents, work on comprehensive design and visions Evaluate results and process

Allotted Time: 5.5-6.5 hrs. Participants: Leonel Lima Ponce, student, Pratt Institute

Irenaldo Honório da Silva, President, Pica-Pau Residents' Association Theresa Williamson, Executive Director, Catalytic Communities Roseli Franco, Institutional Director, Catalytic Communities volunteers/facilitators Pica-Pau residents

Description: Part A: City as Play (45 min. - 1hr.) A conceptual, simple model of the community is placed in the center of the room, with various found objects scattered around it. Participants walk into the room, and are asked to build their visions for the community together. Alternative: Found objects are placed in a pile on a table in the center of the room. They are also given blank sheets of paper, on which each participant or group of participants is asked to design their ideal city with the given materials. Participants then explain their designs to the group (see part B).

Part B: Discussion of Previous Community Exercises (1 hr.) Residents are asked to describe their thought process and results for the previous diagnostic exercises. Participants in the Transect Walks will talk about what they witnessed and reported upon, and participants of the City as Play explain their designs.

lunch (30 - 45 min.)

Part C: Presentation: Sustainable Infrastructure Catalog (30 min.) Presentation of various sustainable sanitation/wastewater technologies, as well as their optimal spatial conditions, costs and benefits, and how they fit together into a full system. This information will be presented orally, but be available to Workshop participants in graphic format during following activities. The catalog will not serve as the only option for residents, but as an option that can be incorporated into their designs and visions as appropriate. (catalog under development by Leonel Lima Ponce)

Part D: Design & Visioning Workshop (1.5-2 hrs.) Participants will break off into groups of 4-6 people, along with one or two facilitators. Each group will be given a packet of information on Pica-Pau community, including maps, photographs, and a copy of the Transect Diagrams previously created. Each group will also be able to access information presented earlier in the workshop, as well as available expertise from facilitators. After an initial visioning project to incorporate each group's individual ideas, groups will present their designs. A discussion will follow, where a core set of goals and visions for sustainable infrastructure for Pica-Pau community can be agreed upon via a vote.

coffee break (15 min.)

Part E: Evaluation (1 hr.) Participants will discuss what they have learned from the workshop, both about their community and about sanitation/other infrastructure. They may speak to what they think the strengths and weaknesses of the process were,

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or to the challenges posed by trying to implement their designs. A short informal survey may be conducted in order to assess the success of the workshop.

Materials: Found objects (volunteers, participants?) Base model or card stock for City as Play (Leonel) Butcher/note-taking paper for each group (Leonel) Markers (Leonel) Packet of information/maps for Workshop, including catalog (Leonel)

Outcomes: Cohesive list of sustainable/infrastructure goals and visions for Pica-Pau Various design options to be incorporated into a Sustainable Infrastructure Plan List of concerns to be considered in implementation of project

April 3-4 *debrief with participants and volunteers, gather data and documentation

3. after visit to Rio de Janeiro Pica-Pau project:

Development of a Pica-Pau Community Sustainable Sanitation/Infrastructure Plan Community review of above plan (additional workshops?) Revision of plan by team Publish plan (find a way to influence existing Morar Carioca process)

Future projects:

Review and assess community engagement processes Make plans for other infrastructural systems identified by Pica-Pau community Identify other communities that may want to try out the process

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AppendixB:MeetingMinutes,CatCommMeetings

B.1 - 25 March 2013 (excerpts)Presença: Sophie (Georgetown student; til July; profiles showing that aspects of the community can't be replicated in public housing); Madeleine (Swedish; til May; writing); Catherine (since Sept; write for ROW; research land rights/upgrading); Nathan (exchange student at PUC, school at UCSB; writing articles); Stuart (Ph.D. student at U Texas; Fulbright through Dec; writing about community media production in favelas); Felicity (a year w/ CC; coordinate ROW; work w/ community journalists; write); Theresa; Anna (intern; since Sept; research municipal politics; coordinating annual favela perceptions survey); Martin (research on health inequalities comparing neighborhoods in Rio; reporting on community health programs); Gloria (new; working on CC Annual Report and other docs); Leonel (studying at Pratt in NY; project on community-based sustainable infrastructure in Pica-Pau); Jamie (PhD student; residents drawing maps in Providência); Sarah (Montreal; interned 2 years ago; translating since; now back in Rio and helping out again) Individual Updates [...] Catherine [...] NEXT UP: Finishing Morar Carioca piece; Inclusive Urbanism Event Leonel Saturday - assess situation physically on the ground in Pica-Pau and chat with Irenaldo to see what activities/workshops there were; as well as possibilities for intervening with MC process. Talked about sanitation/waste problem and social issues like people taking responsibility for their actions and the city too. Dialogue about everyone having a stake in it and the community being in dialogue with the city. Disappointed they weren't. Architects disappointed too. Willing to meet and talk about it and maybe incorporate some ideas into their project. Presented project briefly (idea of having sustainable natural solutions instead of canalizing everything and throwing sewage into overburdoned sewage plants). Talks about mixing nature and urbanity as necessary. Began talking about activities and prefaced saying not just about creating a plan but about providing tools (transect walks, 'city as play' game, catalogue of infrastructures people could draw ideas from, designing workshop). Talked about logistics - transect walks next Saturday. Workshops following Saturday - 6th. Now Irenaldo seeing who would like to do transect walks (5-6 guides). Need people to go along and help document:

● Person holding map and noting points of interest (Leonel) ● Document the conversation (Gloria) ● Film (Sarah)

Information can be used in conjunction with technical surveying to create a map of a place that documents the assets of the community as they perceive it. And plan for future action/development. - transect walks w/ different people from different parts of the community from different backgrounds/perspectives City is doing "river treatment centers" on canals leading to the Bay. One is in Irajá. [...]

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B.2 - 1 April 2013 (excerpts)

Presença: Felicity, Theresa, Rose, Sophie, Nate, Catherine, Gloria, Sarah, Anna, Leonel

Pauta: XNovo site XJimmy videos XAnnual Report XImpact Criteria XUpdates/next steps XPerceptions survey XSteve V. / MIT article / Gramacho XLeonel's project

[...] OUR VISION Favela as a Solution Current Policies in Rio Our Propositions [...]

Catherine Last week: Finished more edits on Morar Carioca article Wrote up most of article @ participatory urbanism event at Studio X Transect walk @ Pica-Pau Next Steps: Participatory urbanism article up; photos to Leonel; Charette on Saturday; community toolbox piece on transect walk [...]

Leonel Sábado foram Leonel, Catherine, Sarah e Gloria - fizeram caminhadas de mapeamento. Decidiram ir todos juntos numa caminhada enorme pela comunidade toda. 10-12 pessoas. Tem que ser mais um dia de caminhadas. Ter muitas pessoas legal porque tinha opiniões variadas incorporadas e trouxe mais atenção dos moradores. foi 11-15:30 sábado Diálogo s/ problemas da comunidade sábado. Conversa começando com 'brincadeira' de Cidade p/ brincar. [...] Gloria Annual report work Accompanied transect walk [...] Sarah Accompanied transect walk Next up: Charrette next week; translations; write @ 'City as Play'; Providência w/ Jamie [...]

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B.3 - 8 April 2013 (excerpts)

Presença: Felicity, Theresa, Rose (Skype), Gloria, Sarah, Madeleine, Stacy, Stuart, Sophie, Leonel, Nate, Anna, Catherine, Kate S-G, Jimmy Chalk Pauta: [...] [...] Leonel Next Steps: 1. Finish paper/report: Background info Issues as community, city, Leonel identifies them Need to have the community identify Solutions Participatory process Summary of a vision that they have for the different areas Final conclusions about process, what worked, what didn't & next steps given their vision/constraints/politics 2. Create catalogue of solutions 3. Skeleton of a plan Leonel returns for another meeting to take process forward. With actual technical team/entity that would be able to carry project forward. When Theresa goes to do resistance strategy Vibe of outspoken people changed over 4 hours. "Dona da Rua" woman - initally saying "these solutions are OK but we can't make them work b/c of ..." Leonel said don't be afraid of suggesting things that could make it work. Flip in people incredible. Need to work on the negative dialogue.

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AppendixC:MeetingMinutes,VisittoPica-PauCommunity(23March2013)

Leonel Lima Ponce Pratt Institute PSPD MS in UESM: Demonstration of Professional Competence, Spring 2013 notes: Pica-Pau visit, 23 March, 2013

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Community Meeting 1: Visiting the Pica-Pau Community meeting minutes 1 Participants

1.1 Leonel Lima Ponce, student, Pratt Institute PSPD 1.2 Irenaldo Honório da Silva, President, Pica-Pau no Cordovil Residents' Association 1.3 Catherine Osborn, Morar Carioca and housing impacts intern, CatComm

2 Brief discussion of community's issues (Irenaldo) 2.1 Flooding & Sewage

2.1.1 New access road to Avenida Brasil, adjacent to community, diverts stream of water directly down to main street of Pica-Pau. Community floods every time it rains.

2.1.2 In Pica-Pau, unlike most of Rio de Janeiro, sewers and stormwater drains are combined, and regularly overflow during rain events. The situation is exacerbated by narrow pipes and small catch basins, some of which are thoroughly outdated and built of clay.

2.1.3 Irajá River, an open air canal, runs at south edge of community. When it rains, the canal receives sewage from Pica-Pau and nearby communities. During our visit, the Irajá seemed to be composed mostly of sewage, and the smell of sewage was prevalent on the adjacent street. Irenaldo commented that when it gets hot, the water begins to bubble and the air smells strongly of various noxious fumes. He says there is a high ration of respiratory diseases in Pica-Pau, including tuberculosis and asthma.

2.1.4 There is a public works project currently underway at the Irajá River. Irenaldo says it is a water treatment project, to happen within the river. He says the city's water secretariat had placed a demonstration of the project next to the canal, in order to educate the public as to the nature and efficacy of their intervention. Yet he and others are still unsure of what the project will do, how much water it will treat, and where the water will go.

2.1.5 Many houses, alleys, and stores have raised the level of their ground floor in order to prevent some flooding. This is done by basically adding 6-8 inches of concrete to the previous foundation, and reflooring the space, or adding speed bumps to keep water from immediately flowing in. A temporary and perhaps dangerous solution.

2.2 Solid Waste 2.2.1 Irenaldo says that solid waste is a tremendous problem for the

community, as well as an intensifying factor to the sewage problems in the community. There is no collection by the city within the community, and most people leave trash bags either just outside of their homes or in whatever city-issued dumpsters are found at times on the edges of the community. Access by vehicles is difficult for pickup.

2.2.2 It is Irenaldo's belief that the problems of the community, and that of solid waste especially, is half the responsibility of government, and half that of

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people themselves. He believes Pica-Pau's residents too often only think of themselves, and have no concern for what happens outside their door, but that if they are galvanized and educated, they can form a united front. As president of the residents' association, he claims to have been able to form some of these bonds and common causes.

2.3 Landslides 2.3.1 Landslides are an issue in case of too much rain in the area, especially in

the upper portions of Pica-Pau. These residences are precariously built upon a rock outcropping rising up from what was historically a wetland and mudflats. Houses have been razed completely, and several are on the brink.

3 Brief presentation of project (Leonel) 3.1 Core Principles

3.1.1 Participation of community in own development as catalyst for social inclusion, with the intent of providing tools of community engagement that can be replicated or incorporated into other processes.

3.1.2 Use of flexible model of environmentally and economically sustainable materials, methods, and processes, in order to provide tools for the community to promote sustainable, participatory development.

3.1.3 Opportunity for insertion into parallel municipal redevelopment process >>> potential for replication to other systems and communities. Must leave enough flexibility to either insert project into city process, or create grassroots, phased projects (in case of political inaction).

3.2 Presented Materials 3.2.1 Brief presentation based on midterm slides, translated

3.3 Asks/Needs for Implementation of Workshops 3.3.1 Agenda for workshops

3.3.1.1 Transect Walks: Saturday, March 30 3.3.1.2 Visioning Workshop: Saturday, April 6

3.3.2 Recruitment of workshop participants 3.3.2.1 Transect Walk community guides: differnet walks of life, different

ages and daily routines/routes 3.3.2.2 Workshop volunteers: from church and other community leaders 3.3.2.3 Workshop participants: variety of residents

3.3.3 Space for visioning workshop: sports court at the entrance to community, where all community-wide events are held.

3.3.4 Documents and maps from city surveys, research. 3.3.5 Assessment of political climate and relationships with community

4 Comments and suggestions from Irenaldo and Catherine 4.1 Principles: Agreement about the need to galvanize and include communities. The

idea is to include culture and education into any social event, or to envelop any

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cultural and educational task into a social event. We will work to promote a block party to host our main visioning workshop. Irenaldo will try to create a raffle, to draw additional interest from a larger proportion of the population.

4.2 Irenaldo shares the belief that harmony must be struck between the environment and the city, as they are intricately connected in a city like Rio de Janeiro. Thus, he is interested in exploring natural solutions that not only help the community's infrastructure, but also the remaining natural landscape in the surrounding area, such as the wetlands.

4.3 Irenaldo has a background in education and community organizing and advocacy. He understands the concepts of participation, as well as some strategies, and is interested in the participation tools. He has participated locally, as a tutor, in a youth environmental education program the city ran between 1999 and 2001. He has represented Cordovil communities in city-wide discussions about the continuation of Agenda 21, and in various informal community redevelopment forums. Irenaldo is skeptical of the current municipal government and its willingness to spend the money it recieves from international foundations ("Where does the money go?"), but understands the need for a multi-pronged approach that engages the community, the government, private actors, and the environment.

4.4 Local NGO iBase conducted a community survey to be included in the Morar Carioca development project, but their contract was cut before implementing the study into the process.

4.5 Contacts at ARQHOS, the architecture office working on the city's Morar Carioca redevelopment project, are dissatisfied with the way the project is going. Of specific concern is the removal of all signs delineating the study area for the project, and the lack of responsiveness from government officials. In a meeting last week, the city's surveying agent tried to assure the design team and community that the plan would go ahead, but the architects would still like to have a conversation with us to consider any parallel proposals for incorporation. They will also reach out to the sanitation and sewerage engineer on the project.

4.6 Socially, Irenaldo believes there is a distinct division within the favela: "favelados", or those with a mindset of taking what the government hands out without the wish to gain more or try anything different, and "comunitários", or those who a trying to make something better of themselves and of their communities by challenging and working with the city government. He says he tends to work with the latter most, but tries reaching out to all members from time to time. In our walk following our meeting, he demonstrated a willingness to talk to anyone, at any time. He believes that "those poor in spirit are easy to control", and seems intent on strengthening the community's overall spirit through his life and work.

4.7 Resources from Irenaldo 4.7.1 Contacts at iBase that may have survey done for Morar Carioca project.

This is important, because estimates on the population of the community vary widely, and impact the volume of sewage to be considered for any project.

4.7.2 Sources for technical information (maps, etc)

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4.7.2.1 CREA: Reginal Council of Engineering and Agriculture 4.7.2.2 Rio de Janeiro Environment Secretariat

4.7.3 Books on community engagement and participation 4.8 Next Steps

4.8.1 Irenaldo to contact specific community members to act as Transect Walk guides, and send a list during the week.

4.8.2 Leonel to specify some preliminary routes, to ensure ample geographic coverage of community through walks.

4.8.3 Irenaldo to set times for walks with each participant, at their convenience 4.8.4 Leonel to search for technical info at city offices. 4.8.5 Catherine to make contact with architecture team, help set up meetings 4.8.6 Catherine to find out more about iBase's role and materials 4.8.7 Leonel to continue to prepare materials for workshop, including sourcing

technical data from city and other sources. 4.8.8 Leonel to assemble technical support team for main workshop, with the

help of Catalytic Communities. 4.8.9 Irenaldo to set date, space for main visioning workshop, and to make

initial contact with possible volunteers

5 Walk through the community: Additional Observations 5.1 Irajá River was clearly polluted. The water seemed to have a viscosity that hinted

at it being composed of mostly sewage, specifically at the surface. Construction crews were working on the water treatment project. A contractor told us that the plan is to treat the water alongside the canal, and that no sewage would have to be transported to a treatment plant. The construction seemed to consist of pumps that cycled the polluted canal water back against the current, in a semi-closed loop, and passed it through various treatment chambers, installed under the sidewalk. The water was then dumped back near where it was first introduced into the system. While interesting in its concepts of localized and small-scale treatment, the system (pending further research) seems to be too small, and too maintenance-heavy to be truly sustainable without additional treatment elsewhere. This project is being done in conjunction with a municipal project to clean the waters of Guanabara Bay, which the Irajá dumps into.

5.2 Residents and commercial tenants along the Irajá River have to constantly deal with its stench and the resultant polluted air. But they seem to have some cursory knowledge of the project, but no concrete ideas. One store owner, Vando, thinks that the city's project will pump water to a small treatment plant 3 km away, and is clearly annoyed at the disruption from construction. He believes the city should worry about waste pickup, and neighbors should be more concerned about banding together and putting pressure on government for transparency and for action. He says residents are in constant fear of eviction or removal in light of these public works, and that they should be involved in the process.

5.3 Community members, Irenaldo and Vando included, seem to be pushing an idea of creating open and public spaces bridging the canal. Space is a big concern in

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this community, but any project on top of the polluted Irajá should take pollution and treatment into consideration as part of the initial project. Proposals for bridging programs I heard during my visit in included a library, playing fields, and a day care. The community has ideas, they need a voice, collaboration with technical support teams, and the cooperation of local government.

5.4 While community leadership in Pica-Pau is considerable strong, neighboring informal settlements are not as organized. We visited a small community a couple of blocks away, and they claimed to be unable to self-organize, that no one had taken leadership. The size of the community may impact this lack of organization. Irenaldo made a comment about the need to band together, since all of these communities will be impacted by the same city projects, and are subject to the same local infrastructural and environmental threats. Yet, according to him, leadership must come from within each community in order to band together into a collective.

5.5 Public works within Pica-Pau were constructed in fits and starts, with some initial projects made in the early 1980's, and not much more done by the city until recently. Those early official sewers are outdated and overburdened, and during our visit, after some rain, some of the catch basins were clearly at capacity. Water also puddled everywhere, increasing the risk of communicable diseases. Some of the infrastructure has been maintained by the community itself, with various catch basin covers being repaired in haphazard ways as was possible by neighbors.

5.6 In order to stop the flow of water, residents have constructed speed bumps on their streets, and progressively raised the level of their houses. This is an unsustainable solution, especially given that this land was landfilled atop a mudflat, and more weight could cause disturbances to the soil conditions below (pending verification of city maps). Not only that, with increasingly strong storms (on one day in the beginning of March, Rio got more rain than for the entire month last year), flooding will only increase, leading to a constant and expensive process of rebuilding and readapting.

5.7 In the upper reaches of the favela, the situation is much more precarious than below. Houses are made of brick and concrete, but piled essentially atop each other. This "area of risk" will be the most difficult to resolve, and people may need to be relocated. During our visit, we were shown a complicated, self-built maze of water pumps and water sewage lines meandering up the rock outcropping to the community's promontory. These projects were clearly built by each resident, and mostly without coordination.

5.8 Precarious even in their original construction, these water systems are being destroyed along with houses whenever a landslide occurs. I witnessed various cracked PVC pipes, both for sewage and for water, some in dangerous proximity to each other. The risk of contamination and waste of drinking water is tremendous. To remedy this, some people have roof rainwater collection tanks (some issued by the city). But they are not well maintained and also pose a risk of mosquito-borne diseases.

5.9 The social life in the favela represents perhaps the biggest opportunity for the continuation of this project. While having lunch on the main street with Irenaldo and his friends, we witnessed a cacophony of activity, with various groups of

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friends playing music, dancing and eating in the street, news of the best new samba party giving out free beers, and general joking around and bickering between friends. Favelas have a reputation for crime and illicit activities, and while this may be true even of Pica-Pau, in general people seem to just be living out their lives, but in a more communal and public way than most. This convivial nature (out of necessity?) means that they are used to sacrificing, negotiating, and finding common ground in their day to day lives, qualities that lend themselves well to finding solutions for the greater good.

6 Images from visit

damaged catch basin typical alley in flat portion of Pica-Pau

homemade stormwater system typical alley in Pica-Pau 1st floor raised to prevent flooding

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the Irajá River, and its flanking road polluted waters of the Irajá

street flanking the Irajá construction materials for city local water treatment

the banks of the Irajá demonstration water pumps demolished house, upper Pica-Pau

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view from upper Pica-Pau sewer and water system in precarious upper Pica-Pau

rupture sewerage pipe in upper Pica-Pau water, sewerage, and electricity (for pumps) meet

electircal and water connection to pump a series of small water pumps built into rock outcrop

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poorly managed rainwater collection water pumps in an alley

sewage puddling after a storm, lower Pica-Pau the access ring to Av. Brasil diverts water to Pica-Pau

drains meant to catch all of the water from access road before entering community

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AppendixD:TransectWalkMaterials

D.1 - Iconography

WATER PUMP.................................................

SEWERAGE CATCHBASIN

(OVERFLOW)..................................................

“WATERBOX”:OVERHEAD

WATER STORAGE CONTAINER .......................

WATER/SEWERAGEBROKENPIPES ......

SPEED BUMP

(MODIFIESWATERFLOW)..........................

FLOODING AREAS.....................................

DISEASES(DENGUES,TB,ETC.).............

SMELLS............................................................

ELEVATED FIRST FLOORS

(TOEVADEFLOODING)................................

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....................................SOLIDWASTE(DUMPING)

.......................................................DUMPSTER

“AREASOFRISK”(LANDSLIDES,

...................................FALLINGSTRUCTURES)

...................................................EMPTYLOTS

ABANDONED

..............................................HOUSE/BUILDING

TREES

.......................(INFILTRATION,ETC)

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D.2 - Transect Maps

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Rio Irajá

WhiteMartins

retornoAv. Brasil

(campo de futebol)

Zona 1:Rua Aricambú

Zona 2:Rua Amaetinga

Zona 3:Alta Pica-Pau

Zona 4:Baixa Pica-Pau

Zona 5:Av. Schulz

Wenk

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D.3 - Transect Diagram

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AppendixE:CommunityVisioningWorkshopProducts

E.1 - Sustainable Infrastructures Catalog Matrix

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E.2 - Community Visions

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