maulik bansal-making sense of rio de janeiro
TRANSCRIPT
Making Sense of Rio de Janeiro: Developing contextual
paradigms for Olympic Villages
Case Study: Rio 2016 and the Historical Neighborhoods - Centro
and Lapa
The relentless forces of globalization are hard to control, and,
perhaps, considered desirable by most cities of the Global South.
However, the 'senseless' urban fabric, marked by urban sprawl, auto-
oriented development and placelessness, that globalization has been
often associated with is rooted in a lack of understanding of their
historic cores of settlements. Often, these cores and their spatial
qualities have been dismissed as inefficient, impractical, insecure,
unhygienic and unplanned. Thankfully, we know better today.
It is crucial that an understanding of these historic cores is
developed before preparing any proposal, within the old or completely
new. There is value in these urban patterns and spatial configurations
that serves to embed symbolization, meaning and significance in its
fabric.
Rio de Janeiro, like many Brazilian cities as well as cities of the
Global South, exhibits a high level of segregation and gentrification
within society. New developments in the Barra region may be seen as
reactions, or responses to this societal stratification, wherein clearly
delineated boundaries have been set up, controlling modes of
movement, communication and exchange.
However, in the same city, when one looks closely at the
historic core, known as Centro, a different picture emerges. The core
represents an alive and active fabric that also forms the financial
center of the city. Centro or Downtown Rio is where the city started to
grow. It is a concentration of landmark buildings and structures,
monuments, parks and churches of historical and cultural interest.
Lapa is one of the better known neighborhoods, famous for its eating
joints, crowded plazas and active streets.
The concerns that arise after witnessing the effects of the
Costa masterplan for the Barra region, auto-oriented development and
density patterns in Barra, and the vibrancy, street life and identity seen
in many neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro, necessitate an urban form
comparison between these distinct patterns. This comparison serves
as a self-explanatory study of the shift in urbanity that Rio de Janeiro
is experiencing in Barra.
The proposals set forth in the Bid Document submitted for Rio
2016 are incorporated in this comparative study, to illustrate the
development pattern propogated by the government. The first part of
this comparison puts forth a Street Pattern Study and a Built Pattern
Study of the Bid Document Proposal for the Olympic and Media
Villages in contrast with Centro — downtown Rio de Janeiro, and
Copacabana.
The following conclusions are arrived at from the study:
a. Copacabana and Centro have much finer road networks and
connectivity than the Barra proposals.
b. Copacabana (27.48%) and Centro (32.69%) have a higher built
ground coverage than the Barra proposals (10.81% and 12.65%)
c. Copacabana and Centro have distinct open space networks (in
yellow) as compared to the Barra proposals. While Centro adopts a
network of small-scale interconnected open spaces (discussed in
previous chapters), Copacabana acknowledges the massive public
front the beach provides, and allows for fewer smaller public spaces.
d. Copacabana and Centro have walkable block sizes in spite of
continually varying dimensions. The shorter dimension of most
blocks is between 160’ and 240’. In comparison, the Barra block sizes
are either too large, as seen around the Convention Center and
Media Village site, or too linear and detached by highways, as seen
in most of Barra da Tijuca.
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Comparative Analysis of Urban Patterns
There are several distinct patterns of urban form visible in the
downtown core. The structure of the city core is almost self-evident in
the clarity with which it communicates its function and use, and the
seamless integration it allows with other uses while, at the same time,
maintaining distinct urban patterns for each. It is also possible to
identify strong axial interventions in the urban fabric. These strong
linkages connect the historic core with the residential neighborhoods,
and also with the natural features. As one studies the urban patterns,
it is clear that these interventions played a pivotal role in linking the
segregated developments and binding the city into a cohesive yet
distinct set of urban patterns that it is today.
In order to better understand this structure, a study of the
open space networks and historical landmarks in the downtown area
has been carried out.
The public open spaces in Rio de Janeiro follow a distinct logic
of interconnectivity. Open space configurations can be understood by
establishing 2-5 minute walking distance radii around them (Map A).
Sets of open-space networks emerge that are within 2-minute walking
distance from each other. The density of the network is apparent as
the 5-minute radius covers almost the entire downtown. Rather than a
single open space located in isolation as a relief to urban density, Rio
displays a much more intricate network of interconnected open spaces
that are within a 2 minute walking distance from each other. A set of
six interconnected spaces is studied in further detail
These open spaces also have a high level of Transparency, with
each space accessible from multiple angles and usually with 7-10
access points (Map B). The multiple access points and viewing angles
enable the viewer to form an understanding of all facades of the
squares. Multiple entrances to each urban place enhances accessibility
and transparency. Linkages within a walkable perimeter create
multiple possibilities of routing a journey to any place. The dense
network creates possibilities of recursive loops in journeys.
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Street Patterns and Built Fabric - Historic Core of Rio de Janeiro
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Map A: Structure and Legibility:
Map B: Transparency
Map C: Legibility and Significance
Map D: Network of Places
A similar walking distance analysis of historical landmarks in
the downtown area reveals grouping zones that have overlaps with the
open space networks (Map C). Sets of historic networks emerge that
are within a 2-minute walking distance from each other. Furthermore,
the open space network is congruent with this. These interconnected
volumes have an element of Significance, as each open space network
is loaded with multiple meanings, historical significance and memory.
This infuses the space with a Sense of Place.
Thus, not only does the transparency help us in forming a
more Legible individual space, but the interconnectedness and
overlaps with history also give these networks strong a Identity, that
relates to their cultural context.
The interconnectivity of the network generates a closed loop
circulation route that runs along the perimeter (Map D). Such a
journey connects open spaces and historical landmarks, while
establishing visual linkages with peripheral features. Thus, the
network of places is mentally unified to form a single, more vivid and
coherent whole.
The shortest walk covering all connected open space networks
covered in the analysis measures approximately 2,000 feet – a less
than 10 minute walk (Map E). The analysis also reveals that such a walk
is never more than two corners away from a re-establishment of visual
connection to the open squares. This is particularly interesting, as the
level of interest, and memory of the previous place is still quite vivid as
one encounters the next significant element. This proximity, coupled
with the significance of each open space has the capacity to then
develop into a narrative that a viewer discovers and interprets. It is the
presence of such a narrative that begins to inform people about a
sense of place, and enables them to form an Identity.
The analysis of such a distinct environment has the potential
to reveal not just one, but multiple narratives that may have been
embedded over time. It is also possible that these narratives
interweave within each other, and also connect other narratives
forming on the periphery of the study area, expanding in complexity
with the scale of the physical environment. The ability of a space to
generate such narratives that interconnect a series of places into a
coherent, unified whole is critical. This suggests that the narrative (a
story) is a crucial part of the formation of a Sense of Place and is a
crucial tool that enables contextual and layered design solutions.
The design for the Olympic Villages must acknowledge this
meta-narrative, and set it up as part of the bigger picture of the
Olympics as a mega-event. It should take one through various events
taking place along the timeline of the Olympic Games, tying together
the entire history and foreseeable future of a city in its course. The
urge to project an identity must be informed by its memory, for
without a memory, there is no identity.
Maulik Bansal
Maulik Bansal is an urban designer who graduated from University of
California, Berkeley. His Masters thesis was on the 2016 Summer Olympics in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His work can be found on
(http://archinect.com/people/cover/19072813/maulik-bansal)5
Map E:
Identity: Integrating Significance, Structure, Legibility, Transparency