Wind do Window | Luisa Pische

THOUGHT
Favela is a “causal universe” made of endless changes and repetitions. First of all, in order to make sure people will stop building houses over other houses the concept of quantity must be replaced with the concept of quality. There are several ways to operate this kind of change in favelas’ inhabitants’ mind. I chose to introduce new formal experiences, full of images coming from the combined use of unusual elements for favelas like “modulated frames for window fixtures”, fixed and protruding out the facades. This could be meant like the first step to what I define “pop arch”, popular architecture. When I say “popular” I don’t mean for people or that belongs to people, but more precisely the concept of mass like pop art meant. The basic structure of this type of architecture comes from a various set of serial elements, which, repeated and widespread through the area, acquire their own added value through the differentiated way of use and purpose of each building they form. The diffusion of these elements gives, to the “illegal favelas society”, a chance of integration into a “legal” society, conferring them an important social value. The combination and repetition of the external elements on the facades will give each building its own, personal character.

Windows in favelas usually consist of an unique prefabricated shared in four parts. Only two of them can be opened, therefore, the ventilation capacity are reduced to 50%. There are many abandoned dwelling due to unhealthy living conditions. Improving illumination and ventilation, and overall, the quality of these rooms, it could slow down the height growth of buildings. I suggest to introduce in the local market a new and widened range of auto-constructed doors and windows of various shapes, sizes and functions, in order to involve users in the project, also letting them to create house facades diversification. Facades of buildings must be regarded as many small morpho-functional units of the architectural scenery. The insertion of eclectic and eccentric elements in the meshes of the fixed structure must allow the user to express his will, even if “tacky”, giving him large choices of customizable design, but preventing a total freedom of doing how and what he want.