World Habitat Awards 2014, Upgrading of Audi União Shantytown

Two of the ten finalists of the World Habitat Awards are projects designed to help improve living conditions in informal settlements. “Upgrading of Audi União Shantytown” in Curitiba, Brazil, is one of these.



Curitiba, capital of the state of Paraná, is one of Brazil’s fastest growing cities, with a population of more than 1.9 million. A large number of the population lives in informal settlements and Audi União Shantytown is one of the largest and poorest of these. It is located on the banks of the Iguaçu river, which poses a very high flood risk. 





Lead by the Curitiba Municipal Housing Company (Companhia de Habitação Popular de Curitiba – COHAB/CT) the project has an integrated and participatory approach: it has involved the local community, local leaders, civil society organisations and government agencies at a range of levels, all interested in improving the living conditions of the households living here.



The involvement of the Audi União Shantytown people is central to the project, which – contrary to many others – does not focus on relocating the community but aims to actively protect people living here by improving their safety and living conditions and reducing the risk of floods: so “Upgrading of Audi União Shantytown” isn’t just limited to housing, it has become a driver of positive social change.



David Ireland, the director of Building and Social Housing Foundation (BSHF), which organises the World Habitat Awards explains: “Despite heavy rains and flooding, the flood prevention system has protected homes from flooding and the fact that residents have been able to remain in their community rather than being resettled in distant areas has ensured that existing employment and access to places of work have not been affected. There have been wider social benefits from the upgrading process. Income levels have increased, with a 206 per cent increase in the number of families earning at least the minimum wage.”

(Christiane Bürklein)

World Habitat Awards 2014-15
Building and Social Housing Foundation (BSHF)
Images: Courtesy of World Habitat Awards
More on Livegreenbog: http://www.floornature.com/blog/here-are-the-10-finalists-for-the-2014-15-world-habitat-awards-10220/