5) Description of housing product/service offering: We are providing an architectural and urban design strategy which incorporates modular housing. The main objective of this initiative is the refurbishment of the existing favela settlements into neighbourhoods with adequate infrastructure so as to integrate those communities economically and socially into the city as an alternative to demolition and relocation into districts far from the city centre. The modular housing scheme also aims to introduce an industrialized product to the people of the favela as well as quality housing at a competitive price. It is our intention to speed up construction process such that a unit may be erected on site within a month. Although my organisations primary function is the urban composition and architectural design of these units integrated in existing contexts, a broader partnership will involve university and NGO participation to facilitate the communication and promotion of the initiative at a larger scale. This will ensure that the scheme connects to grass roots organisations within the communities, enabling the beneficiaries to play a role in the evolution of the brief.

6) Description of innovation: The existing programs in the field focus on a traditional building with tijolo (brick/block) involving participation through the Mutual Helping Program (MHP) whereby each family contributes approximately 16hrs a week to the construction of a scheme. Habitacao Urbana Modular units are used 20ft and 40ft dry shipment containers refurbished in factory conditions to minimise material wastage. This kind of unit is rapid in construction, minimal on construction costs, offers variety and a high quality of life to the beneficiary, and training programs within the factory can be monitored to ensure the workforce is adequately trained. The scheme therefore aims to take advantage of the MHP for cost saving purposes, but also to create a trained beneficiary-workforce for the manufacture of these units at a wider level. Technologically, the scheme is still under development. However, it aims to be environmentally conscious using natural ventilation, natural lighting, rainwater collection, grass roofing and soft landscaping for cooling and insulation of the external surfaces, the provision of material separation for domestic waste and with the use of a dry toilet facility in each module. A choice of general arrangement layouts and external material cladding ensures beneficiary participation in design. Incorporated in the urban design strategy is master-planning; it is important to determine which areas of each site are appropriate for high density settlement (i.e. four storeys of construction) or low density (i.e. one or two storeys). Furthermore the urban design strategy should incorporate rhythm, hierarchy and soft landscaping to engage the urban fabric with nature and differentiate between public realm and private realm.

7) Benefits to clients: A key factor to the question of delivery is the partnership with NGO’s, universities and architectural practices that have experiences in the Favela-Bairro project. These organisations and architects have a history with these communities and many successful projects and programs have been undertaken. The primary phase of this scheme, therefore, is to manufacture a prototype as a “moving showroom” to demonstrate the product to these communities at their doorstep, process feedback, and begin a dialogue with them whilst further demonstrating to the wider audience that this piece is conceived as a highly mobile unit. One of the key issues to ensure the success of this scheme in Brazil is how it is portrayed to the marginalised communities. We wish to prove the convenience of this type of dwelling as a modern, attractive and desirable alternative to traditional construction.

8) Key operational partnerships: I have established a key partnership with Architect Jorge Mario Jauregui in Rio de Janeiro (RJ) who specializes in casas populares for the Favela-Bairro initiative in Brazil and Latin America. Essentially, Jauregui has acted as a partner in design and the conception of the HUM scheme; Priscila Soares (University of Rio de Janeiro). Ricardo Gouvea from Fundacao Bento Rubiao (RJ) - a grassroots NGO which provides Legal aid, facilitates fundraising, researching and networking for housing projects. Gouvea is also a member of the Federal Council and the Housing Committee and is vital in providing support for the HUM initiative, from defining the brief to beginning dialogue with governmental financiers. Furthermore I have good relations with Arquitetos Sem Frontieras (ASF) in Europe and Brazil. ASF have helped me resource almost all of the contacts I have made so far - our relationship may formalise in the near future. Tiago Vier (Project Officer - Architecture & Development, Paris) has helped to cement the relationship with Gouvea, and hopes to play an integral part in resourcing, fundraising and promoting projects in Latin America as his organisation is currently only focussed with projects in Asia and Africa. Other fundamental partners include the representatives of the Community Association of the Manguinhos favela in Rio – where we wish to situate one of our prototype modules.

9) Financial model: The financial model should replicate the Mutual Helping Program whereby the beneficiaries are part of the workforce. However, whereas existing schemes are primarily funded by council, we hope to extend our financial resources to NGO foundations and fundraising organisations both domestically and abroad. If the scheme demonstrates success within a year, we hope to have introduced an industry to the favela populous.

          • Costs as percentage of income: N/A

          • Financing: Phase 1 – an architectural scheme depending on funding from governmental organisations and foundations, their modification on collaboration with existing players in the container industry. Phase 2 - workshops with participation from the inhabitants of Maguinhos to refurbish units. Phase 3 - introduction of a self-sustainable or profitable grassroots industry providing employment and training programs for the favela populous (including Mutual Help Program). The initiative should therefore at this early stage forecast the supply of HUM homes to a wider-income clientele within the city/country and as an exportable product in the long-term. for the longer term.

10) Effectiveness

          • Project outcomes: N/A

          • Number of clients in past year: N/A

          • Percentage of clients that are poor or marginalized: N/A

          • Potential demand: It is too early to measure its demand at this stage, but I would speculate it is on the increase. The rate of urbanisation of rural communities in Brazil is exponential and the marginalised populations represent a large proportion of the city. In my view, the demand for this kind of unit as a low-income solution is between 500,000 – 1 million people. However, if the program is successful, it will provide housing solutions for middle income and high-income client groups within Brazil raising the demand to the 1-5 million bracket, and if exported to the Middle East, Africa and Europe, could be greater than 5M.

11) Scaling up strategy

          • Stage of the initiative: Start Up stage.

          • Expansion plan: A moving showroom phase of between 3-6 months would accumulate investment and media interest. After which and depending on its success we would move into the production phase, producing 20 – 40 modules for a scheme housing between 120 – 240 people. Preparations for a Scale-up phase could therefore begin once this scheme is underway. If it is considered successful and communication of the initial scheme reaches a wider audience we would propose the scheme in other sites in Rio and Brazil. My partners have previously demonstrated an interest in promoting the scheme throughout Brazil and Latin America, but the lessons learned could very easily be carried to projects on a global level should there be demonstrable success of the scheme in Brazil within 2-3 years.

12) Origin of the initiative: The initial idea to provide a form of modular dwelling which could respond to an abundant and continuing housing crisis was conceived in 2000 following a lengthy stay in the Palestinian Territories. I conceived of a kind of mobile dwelling unit suitable for habitation (by the marginalised populations or refugees for instance) on land where there is a legal stalemate. However, six years later, soon after visiting some Brazilian favelas, I contacted Architects Sans Frontiers (ASF) in Cambridge, England, and followed up on the contacts they gave me and continued to research on the existing framework for relief architecture in Brazil. In June 2006, I met with Jorge Mario Jáuregui in Rio and soon after began researching into the idea of modular construction in Brazil. With enthusiasm, my new partner and I conceived of a name for this initiative...Habitacao Urbana Modular.

Contact Information:
Nael  Evans
Architect
Jauregui Arquitetos
(Urbanism & Architectural business)
Rua Martins Ferreira,26 – Botafogo – Rio de Janeiro – RJ – Brazil – CEP:22.271-010
Brazil
Tel: (0055-33) 9111 6641
Fax: (0055-21) 2286 1817
Email: naelevans@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.jauregui.arq.br