HOUSING NETWORK

 Located in the Grajaú sub-municipality, one of the poorest in São Paulo, Ocupação Anchieta started as a land invasion four years ago. As a result of the occupation, has suffered severe deforestation and the pollution of the natural springs in the area of environmental protection that crosses the site. Today, more than 800 families live in the site, with precarious housing conditions and the lack of basic infrastructures. Out of many problems, housing is what I chose to focus on. The project Housing Network addresses the needs of infrastructure and spatial upgrades to the existing housing stock in Ocupação Anchieta. Presented as an easy-to-assemble kit of parts, the proposal includes a step by step guide to tackle the immediate housing needs of the residents, while addressing the needs for decentralized sewage treatments, improvements in the water and electric supply systems. From the domestic scale to the collective community spaces, the proposal works in an incremental and flexible manner, addressing the needs for adaptable spaces and the construction of a sense of community among the residents. With the help of faculty and fellow colleagues, this project has been awarded multiple grants as part of a bigger project and the funding will be used to build and test the prototypes shown below.

Awards: Dow sustainable seed grant, First place in the Ford Community Challenge, First place in the Dow Sustainability fellowship Grant.