Amelias of the Amazon

Kamel Arquitetura and Matheus Vieira

Project implementation: Brazil
Project development: Brazil

This project was developed for the Amélias of the Amazon. This community, which extracts andiroba and Amazonian spices, is located in the Tapajós National Forest (FLONA) in the state of Pará. Its name was intended to redefine "the Amélia women," which in the last century was the name given to women who dedicated themselves exclusively to caring for the home. Thus, the Amélias of the Amazon represent the entrepreneurship and protagonism of Amazonian women. Developed in partnership by architects Tales and Taís Kamel, from the Kamel Arquitetura firm, and architect Matheus Vieira. Located in the Tapajós National Forest, in the heart of the Amazon, it combines contemporary architecture, sustainability, and innovation, creating a laboratory in harmony with the forest. The idea stemmed from a contemporary Amazonian architecture project, using wood as a guiding material, readily available in the region. We could use traditional forest labor and construction methods to translate vernacular architecture with low-carbon construction, adapted to the local, hot, and humid Amazon climate. Through the use of shading elements, rich in details characteristic of local architecture, the project highlights the importance of traditional peoples' knowledge. The project strengthens local communities, promoting the development of a sustainable bioeconomy, and extolling the richness of contemporary Amazonian architecture, in harmony with and respect for nature. The forest resists, the forest pulses, the forest lives.

Participate in the program of debates, workshops and associated activities!

TODAY (18.10)

10am – table Taking action for climate adaptation from the Public Authorities

10am – workshop Design marathon to communicate fair, resilient and low-carbon cities

2pm – table Achieving decarbonization and resilience in the built environment

3:00 PM – Alfredo Sirkis Piratininga Park Book Launch – Nature, Innovation and Socio-Environmental Justice

4:00 PM – Publication Launch of the II Climate Emergency and City Seminar

6:30 p.m. – Closing Session + Awards Ceremony of the 14th BIAsp International Schools Competition 

TOMORROW (19.10)

4:00 PM – Let the water flow…A tribute to architect Kongjiang Yu and cinematographers Luiz Ferraz and Rubens Crispim 

5:00 PM – activity Urgent Panorama! Visit to the Panorama Lab project in Jardim Panorama 

JOIN! IT'S ALL FREE!

The Biennial is open until October 19th!

NOTE OF CONDOLENCE

With deep sorrow, the Brazilian Institute of Architects – São Paulo Department (IABsp) mourns the passing of architect and landscape architect Kongjian Yu, a global leader in ecological urbanism, and the members of his team who accompanied him, tragically killed during the filming of a documentary. The institute is honored to have had him as a participant in the 14th São Paulo International Architecture Biennial, where his transformative vision strengthened the dialogue between global challenges and local realities. IABsp emphasizes that Yu's contribution, which transcends borders, will remain an inspiration for generations and expresses its condolences to China, to the families of all the deceased, to his friends, and to all those impacted by his genius and dedication. Read the full note here.