Inclusive Housing: Proposal of Intervention in Two Buildings in Inner-City São Paulo

Sandra Perito, Instituto Brasil Acessivel / FAUUSP PhD student, architect, Instituto Brasil Acessivel / Marcondes Perito Engenharia e Arquitetura, Brazil


Introduction

Attentive to population aging developed countries are promoting inclusive dwelling whether new or rehabilitated, for the social inclusion of their older people. This enables their long-term stay in their own houses as well as being members of communities to which they are used to. The oldest portion of the population has a strong identification with inner-cities, and those countries have given superb examples of social administration when they solve two great current problems: the increase in number of older people and reurbanization of degraded inner-cities. Such challenges are a reality in Brazil also. Dwelling has a important role in the revalorization of the run-down inner-city, an area that offers excellent living conditions, if investments are made in their habitability.

Objective

Project proposals will be presented for intervention and physical and financial analysis for recuperation and adaptation of degraded buildings for living in São Paulo inner-city, for use by all age segments of the population, as well as by people presenting, or that will present, temporary or permanent decrease in their capacities. The Brazilian peculiarity of acquiring their houses through long-term loans, due to social and economic problems was considered, as this attaches them to their homes for most part of their lives. The objective of this study was to analyze the feasibility of adaptable and universal solutions for dwellings, to be promoted in the inner-city rehabilitation.

Material and Method

Following international trends São Paulo has now, a program for revitalization of the degraded and abandoned central area with emphasis on housing. Several public service departments and agencies are returning to the area, resulting in significant increase in the demand of dwellings near the workplace. In a city as large as São Paulo living near to the workplace means an invaluable increase in life quality. The promotion of housing for all social classes is fundamental, as it allows democratization of social contact. Studies for rehabilitation were conducted in buildings promoted by private enterprises during the 1930-1960 decades, intended for economical housing in inner-city São Paulo which are abandoned today. The premises were the universal design precepts, with a focus on inclusive homes allowing safe and independent use for the whole life. The proposal comprised two buildings, already listed by the public administration for intervention, for analysis of the physical and financial feasibility aiming to apply a more inclusive concept in the rehabilitation: Edifício Nações Unidas on Av. Paulista x Av. Brigadeiro Luís Antônio, dated 1953, and Edifício Guaranésia on Rua da Consolação x Rua Nestor Pestana, dated 1959.

Project Baselines

Once the building and unit typologies were the principal factor that expelled the users from apartments. Despite the excellent localization, it is a priority that the rehabilitation provides better life quality to future users. In order to accommodate them over a long term to units it is important to make effective rehabilitation. So this proposal intends to demonstrate the feasibility of recuperation to be of use by all the population, based on universal design concept focusing on inclusive homes.

Results

The feasibility of adding universal characteristics to the several typologies of apartments of these buildings, with versatile and adaptable design, was shown. The increase in costs, in addition to the minimum specified for the units, to account for the inclusive concept represents, on average, 0.5% over the sales price defined by the PAR Program of Federal Housing Agency (Caixa Econômica Federal).

Table 01 - Increase of costs for an inclusive intervention
one bedroom unit at Nações Unidas
Services: mat. + work Room Quantity Unit Cost Total Cost
Wall demolition Wc/Kitc/Bedr 15,90 m2 R$ 12,00 R$ 190,80
Floor removing Laund / Bathr 6,95 m2 R$ 10,00 R$ 69,50
Door removing Kitc/Bedr./Bathr 3 units. R$ 30,00 R$ 90,00
Rubbish removal All apartment item R$ 95,00 R$ 95,00
Wall construction Laund./Kitc/Bathr 7,50 m2 R$ 18,00 R$ 135,00
Wall covering Bedr./Hall/Livingr 5,10 m2 R$ 10,00 R$ 51,00
Tile complement Bathr/Laundry 2,00 m2 R$ 18,00 R$ 36,00
Plumbing complement Kitc/Bathr/Laund item R$ 300,00 R$ 300,00
Door complement Kitc/Bedr./Bathr 3 units R$ 60,00 R$ 180,00
Parquet complement Bedr./ Livingr item R$ 40,00 R$ 40,00
Electric inst. complem. All apartment item R$ 75,00 R$ 75,00
TOTAL INCREASE R$ 1.262,30

Considering the lowest sales price stipulated by PAR Program of Federal Housing Agency (R$ 505,35/m2) the increase in costs to an inclusive habilitation is:

  • Edifício Nações Unidas - two bedrooms unit
    Area = 71,75m2 / Sales Price = R$ 36.233,75
    Increase = R$ 1.506,50 = 0,04% of sales price


  • Edifício Nações Unidas - one bedroom unit
    Area = 54,50m2 / Sales Price = R$ 27.522,50
    Increase = R$ 1.262,30 = 0,045% of sales price


  • Edifício Guaranésia - one bedroom unit
    Area = 40,00m2 / Sales Price = R$ 20.200,00
    Increase = R$ 1.109,30 = 0,054% of sales price


  • Edifício Guaranésia - union of two kitchenettes
    Area = 42,00m2 / Sales Price = R$ 21.210,00
    Increase = R$ 1.195,90 = 0,056% of sales price

Conclusions

Dwellings allowing the safe and full use by any user during any stage of their lives are feasible and affordable in Brazil. In particular, the city of São Paulo has the chance of reviewing the social function of housing, readapting deteriorated buildings with a more inclusive vision, in order to provide well-being and better life quality to its citizens. Based on the universal design principles, the rehabilitation of degraded buildings may give the opportunity for an equal use by all segments of the population, without discrimination, segregation, or social exclusion.

Discussion

During the workshop, the participants will assess the physical feasibility of recycling residential buildings, for use during any stage of life; they will be able to compare the differences between the original design with those of the inclusive proposal; they will visualize options of intervention in three types of apartments, originally built for low-cost housing; they will understand which steps of the work show cost- differences for adaptation to universal units.