“Rethinking the Future of Housing Worldwide: Favelas as a Sustainable Model?” by Theresa Williamson

With Rio as its case study, this talk describes and analyzes sustainable and creative practices and urbanistic qualities that emerge organically from unplanned favela communities. It unhinges the logic that unregulated ‘slums’ are a horrid problem and suggests instead they can actually pose solutions to urbanization worldwide, not only in the obvious ways of providing affordable housing, but actually in the development models they create through that same lack of regulation.

By rethinking favelas in this way, we shift our lens entirely: what feels like an insurmountable problem (i.e. ‘slums’) becomes an incredible opportunity to recognize and build on human ingenuity, engagement and social capital to create breakthroughs in poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability, worldwide.

Could Rio de Janeiro’s informal settlements, or favelas, serve as models of sustainable development?