Social-Interest Architecture in Brazil: The Seed of Something New

Chapter 11 sheds light on the often overlooked segment of Brazilian architecture called assessorias técnicas, which refers to nonprofit consultancies that engage in participatory design for low-income housing. These assessorias play a significant role in producing housing of higher quality compared to conventional top-down public housing approaches. Moreover, they offer a model of sociopolitical empowerment by involving residents in the design, construction, and management of their homes. Through case studies of Peabiru and Usina, two assessorias located in São Paulo, the chapter explores the technical and social innovations of this approach, while also addressing the ethical dilemmas associated with uncompensated labor and the working conditions of self-built housing. Overall, the assessorias técnicas model exemplifies a noteworthy alternative in Brazilian architecture that prioritizes community engagement and addresses the housing needs of marginalized populations.