São Paulo: flood city

Mackenzie Presbyterian University | Fau+D

Project implementation: Brazil
Project development: Brazil

Thinking in extremes allows us to act in bursts of some radicality, precisely because it understands that this action can be charged with two movements: that of reparation through reflection on what could and could be; and that of advancement, as a becoming, born of the revolt of what should never be done again.

Being a city of waterways can be an important exercise in repair, not only in repairing the meaning of things, but in searching for what was lost, torn apart, ripped out, mutilated, and, often, not even imagined.

If the city of drizzle, in a short space of time, has transformed into a city of flood—which sweeps away the weakest—the reparations we call for aim to bring us closer to both the processes of belonging by raising awareness among the population regarding their rights as citizens, and the instruments of resistance that establish the possibility of a common life. Approaches that lead us to focus on confronting the problems and, from them, consider which places, elements, and processes contribute to effective and concrete transformation.

The work "São Paulo: Cidade Dilúvio" aims to weave the practice of architectural and urban design, based on the inseparable relationship between its products and processes, giving it depth and, thus, placing it closer to the understanding of social phenomena, also stemming from natural phenomena. To this end, we rely on lines that open and reveal: the 65 viaducts, which we treat as staples—seams to bridge the great river-rift of the city we live in—present themselves as multiple possibilities for recognizing paths of confluence. There is an understanding here that being in continuous and unfinished flux is a condition and (con)formation of existence itself for those who are flux. Discovery of fertile territories full of transformative momentum.

These fraying staples, which repair their extreme movements as they do so, present us with spaces of potential public and common use, seeking new waters, respecting their particularities, in place of sluggish spaces, approaching the shallows of infrastructure and the roofs of existing buildings. Waters that can, themselves, return the construction of landscapes to life.

The proposal sees the city, ultimately, as a river and spaces as floods to, perhaps, fight for overflows of life, coming from grounds full of life brought by the water, whose objective is to trigger the political articulation of reinvention of, ultimately, other times.

The work was developed by students Tomas Lee Guidotti, Pedro Toni, Diogo da Silva, Fernando Tetsuo, Stephany Araújo, Renata, Tomita, Ana Paula Ramos, Yasmin Negri, Fernanda Vieira, Isabela Tunes, Júlia Pacheco, Leonardo Ferreira, Giovana Gare, in conversations with Fau Mackenzie teachers Antonio Fabiano, Amaral, Catherine Otondo, Renata Coradin, Luiz Backheuser, Ricardo Ramos, Viviane Rubio.

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

TODAY (10.10)

2:30 pm – table Risk-Free Periphery in the Context of Climate Change

4pm – table Knowing to Transform: Community Climate Risk Reduction and Adaptation Plans

6:30 pm – table Inclusive Adaptation: Nature-Based Solutions in the Peripheries

9am – Drawing Workshop: Oscar Niemeyer's Architecture in Ibirapuera Park and the Climate Challenge

IN THE NEXT DAYS (11 to 14.10)

ATTENTION the table Palmas: For 36 years, the ecological capital of Tocantins which would be held on 10/11 | 7pm was canceled.

11.10 and 12.10 | 9am – workshop Inventa(rio) Fronteiras: Playing for Multispecies Cities

11.10 | 10am – workshop Elémenterre teaching bag

11.10 | 11am – table Learning to inhabit the Anthropocene: the crisis of architecture

11.10 | 2pm – table Architecture for Learning and Civic Use

11.10 | 3pm – table Culture and Public Architecture

11.10 – 15h – workshop Elémenterre teaching bag

11.10 | 4pm – table Reconnecting with Nature & Circular Design

11.10 | 5pm – table Architecture of Belonging: Interpreting Heritage Through Place

12.10 | 10am – table Experience: Climate Refuges and Naturalized Public Spaces, with Eco-Neighborhood

12.10 | 10:30 am – table Childhoods and Climate: Climate Justice in Vulnerable Territories

12.10 | 10:30 am – Windsock Workshop with the Floating Collective 

12.10 | 3pm – table Doing a lot with a little: architectures for a planet in transition with Esteban Benavides from Al Borde office

12.10 | 4:30 pm – table Earth – building a sustainable and democratic future 

12.10 | 5:45 pm – table French presence at the Biennale and screening of the film AJAP – Albums of Young Architects and Landscape Architects

13.10 – activity Pantanal Action at IABsp

10/14 | 10am – table Urgent Panorama! Space as an act of permanence

14.10 | 6pm – Launch of the “Nature-Based Education” Guide

JOIN! IT'S ALL FREE!

And there's much more 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.