Operação urbana consorciada Linha Verde e co-living

Abstract

Going through the history of one of Brazil’s highways, the “BR-116”, this study intends to understand how it’s insertion and interaction in the urban fabric of the city of Curitiba caused it to become a “tear” in the very fabric of the city, and how the city’s governing body has tried to diminish it’s downsides and implications, through a number of urban projects and measures. One of such measures was called “Urban Consortium Operation: Linha Verde”. The concept of such operations dates back to 2001, when the “Statute of the City” was implemented into Brazilian Law, and has the premise of uniting governing bodies, the general public and private companies into a collaborative effort for urban planning measures, benefitting the city and it’s citizens. Despite the effort and it’s nearly full implementation, little has changed in the overall use of land in the neighboring sites along the new Avenue born from this project, resulting in a landscape that’s filled with large misused sites, walled areas that deprive pedestrians of much needed security and a lack of interaction between the sites and the walkways and streets. This study follows up on this analysis by proposing a type of building that would bring in more interactive spaces in and around the site, and would stimulate social and cultural growth and diversity in the area. This would be a co-living type building, a shared housing category that emphasises in the social and community aspects of sharing spaces, nurturing a sense of belonging, attachment and collaboration. A number of related cases are studied and analised, from both a social, historical and urban perspective (the cases of Milan and Turin), and in terms of architectural form, concept and design (“Les etóiles D’Ivry-sur-Seine" by Renée Gailhoustet and Jean Renaudie, and “The Cube Utrecht”, by the Van Wijnen architecture practice). Further analysis of the site intends to determine the best possible location for this co-living proposal, through studying the area’s infrastructure, road network, use of land, demographics and social data, and historical context of the neighbourhood. Based off the urban parameters dictated by the Urban Consortium Operation, the study of related cases and the analysis of the area, this study concludes by establishing parameters for the architectural form, concept and design of a Co-living Project, inspired by the areas of the Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre (Italy), where the building blocks of the city ascend the mountain landscape, with a vibrating, culturally and socially active community that thrives in it’s many streets, walkways and open areas that exist inbetween the buildings. This very sense of integration and community is the base for the co living project concept, which also focuses on the interaction between indoor and outdoor areas, through the use of external living spaces and pathways, loggias, and vegetation. The building will also promote the mixed use of land, with it’s first floor plan destined to public use, green living areas, commercial units along its façades and shelter for pedestrians, incentivising socioeconomic interactions