Between the House and the Street Live, Work, and Community Environment in Peripheral Neighbourhoods of Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

The urban space of Rio de Janeiro's peripheral neighbourhoods, transformed by its residents, is analysed as a reference for thinking about alternatives to housing and the city that have been planned previously. The approach to these built environments and their residents' ways of life aims to recognize, record, and disseminate their forms of production of space, that do not correspond to hegemonic models, but are the result of a daily construction process. The live–work unit has a prominent role in the production of its urban environments that, unlike the planned residential areas and contrary to legislation, is mixed with houses for strictly residential use. Responding to economic, cultural, and social demands, the transformations operated in the houses – understood as 'tactics' (De Certeau, 1984) – promote the dilution of the border between private and public space and create transition spaces, with the quality of 'in-between space' (Her berger, 1996). Allowing and encouraging the mixed use of housing and work is analysed for its potential to qualify the urban space, propitiating income generation and reduction of displacements, issues that are even more pressing after the COVID-19 pandemic. A synthesis of the research fi ndings is presented, de fining spatial categories and constructive elements that constitute a repertoire for the project and for discussing changes in legislation that could help in the increase of live–work units.