A federal building abandoned for decades may soon be rehabilitated to provide quality housing for socially vulnerable families in downtown Porto Alegre. This is the proposal of a project selected in the funding call for Technical Assistance for Social Interest Housing (ATHIS) programs by the Council of Architecture and Urbanism (CAU/RS). Made possible by the Architects' Union of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, the project aims to turn the building in the Floresta neighborhood into a decent home for approximately 40 low-income families.
The building, abandoned for 50 years and located at 161 Barros Cassal Street, is currently occupied by several families from the 20 de Novembro Settlement, a movement that was granted the real right of use of the property in 2016. The building's current conditions are far from ideal. The project allocates the back of the main building—currently in ruins—for social housing, alongside supporting facilities such as a children's play space, a small library, and a cultural center. Additionally, the solid clay bricks salvaged from the existing structure during the architectural restructuring will be reintegrated into the building as cobogós (hollow brick screens characteristic of Brazilian architecture), landscaping features, and outdoor furniture.
The project for the 20 de Novembro Settlement receives funding from MCMV-E (Minha Casa Minha Vida Entidades) for the housing units' architectural design, and from SAERGS, through CAU sponsorship, for environmental sustainability (environmental comfort and energy efficiency). The architects and urban planners responsible for the architectural design are Franthesco Spautz, Karla Moroso, Paola Maia Fagundes, Paulo Bicca, and Taiane Chala Bedusch from the firm AH! Arquitetura Humana.
The project's premise is to remain true to its roots. Consequently, it is being coordinated by the occupation's residents themselves. Currently, the project is under review by the Commission for the Analysis and Approval of Priority Housing Demand (CAADHAP).
The Building
Originally, in 1955, the building located on Barros Cassal Street was intended to be a hospital for employees of the now-defunct Federal Railway Network, but the project was abandoned. The building remained empty for approximately 40 years until it was occupied in 2013 by the 20 de Novembro Settlement, becoming home to several low-income families. In March 2016, the occupation was granted the right of use for the property. A month later, the building's rehabilitation project was approved by Caixa Econômica Federal under the Minha Casa, Minha Vida Entidades program. That same year, the firm AH! Arquitetura Humana took over the technical responsibility for the project.
The Call for Proposals
The call for proposals to sponsor Technical Assistance for Social Interest Housing (ATHIS) projects was launched by CAU/RS in 2017 (to view it, access the Public Notice No. 001/2017 on the Transparency Portal). Two projects were selected. One is Morar Sustentável, proposed by SAERGS, and the other is the program to promote Technical Assistance in Social Interest Housing, by the Institute of Architects of Brazil (IAB/RS).
Via CAU/BR
This article was written by CAU/BR. The translation is powered by AI.
