O Caminho do Bosque, Recife/Olinda (Brazil) 2015
AtelierVivo (Independent)
The pilot project for AtelierVivo. A 2 week design and build experience involving 14 university students exploring ideas and processes for the design and construction of urban interventions in the northeast of Brazil.
The area of the intervention is located along a stretch of Rua Bispo Coutinho de Baixo, an access path that runs below the renowned historic and touristic destination, Alto da Se in Olinda, Pernambuco in the northeast of Brazil. The path provides access to local residents, occasional tourists as well as Waldolf school. The area receives infrequent maintenance from the local government which contributes to issues such as a a lack of safety, lack of lighting and fostering undesirable activities such as drug use.
Irrespective some children preferred to take the overgrown path on their way to the school and saw it as an enchanted forest. The project henceforth became known as and inspired by ‘O Caminho do Bosque’ or the forest path.
Through community engagement and consensus driven design key moments for intervention projects were identified along the pathThese were
Largo de Amizade – A stairway and meeting place for local residents
Patio da Escola – The area in front of the Waldolf school
Portal Misericordia- the lower entrance to the path
Portal da Se the entrance connecting to the historical plaza,
Responses that could be carried out within the budget and timeframe in these areas primarily focused around wayfinding were developed and constructed using timber, steel and paint.
Following the last minute installation of these elements the experience was concluded with a community invited open-air film screening, music from local bands and t-shirt silk screening.
The area has since been adopted by AtelierVivo as a site for ongoing interventions and maintanance. Shorter spin-off activities such as ‘Mural Studio ‘ allow for further upkeep and experiemental actions in the area.
Client: Local Residents
Tutors: Michael Phillips, Lula Marcondes Natan Nigro
Research Question: Methodologies for collaborative design-build projects in the Brazilian context. Appropriate technologies and responses for urban interventions.
Link: AtelierVivo Facebook
Brazil, Ateliervivo, Architecture, Days, Initiated by institution, Architectural Technology, Undergraduate, Self-funded, Semi-permanent, 11-50, Art & Design, Extra-curricular, Students with tutor
