TAQUARIL FAVELA

VOLUNTEER ARCHITECT [2007-2008]

Between 2007 and 2008 I worked as a volunteer architect in Taquaril Favela helping the community implement their houses and surroundings.

Taquaril Favela is located in the eastern region of Belo Horizonte, between the neighborhoods Alto Vera Cruz, Granja de Freitas and the border with the city of Sabará. Occupation of the site began in 1981, in an area that belonged to CODEURB – Urban Development Company of the State of Minas Gerais. With an area of 1,042,483 m², Taquaril has around 4229 households with an estimated population of 17,712 inhabitants. Amongst its residents the literary rate is 81.8%, 53% of the buildings are connected to public sewage system and 97.5% of water is supplied through general network of Copasa. [2009 – source Favela Social]

The work included interviews with residents, visit to houses, architectural surveys of the spaces [area measurement, water supply, drainage and electrical] and ventilation diagrams. Once the main problems were diagnosed a simple architectural design solutions was proposed followed by onsite visits to manage construction.