Making Sense of Rio de Janeiro: Developing contextual

paradigms for Olympic Villages

Case Study: Rio 2016 and the Historical Neighborhoods - Centro

and Lapa

The relentless forces of globalization are hard to control, and,

perhaps, considered desirable by most cities of the Global South.

However, the 'senseless' urban fabric, marked by urban sprawl, auto-

oriented development and placelessness, that globalization has been

often associated with is rooted in a lack of understanding of their

historic cores of settlements. Often, these cores and their spatial

qualities have been dismissed as inefficient, impractical, insecure,

unhygienic and unplanned. Thankfully, we know better today.

It is crucial that an understanding of these historic cores is

developed before preparing any proposal, within the old or completely

new. There is value in these urban patterns and spatial configurations

that serves to embed symbolization, meaning and significance in its

fabric.

Rio de Janeiro, like many Brazilian cities as well as cities of the

Global South, exhibits a high level of segregation and gentrification

within society. New developments in the Barra region may be seen as

reactions, or responses to this societal stratification, wherein clearly

delineated boundaries have been set up, controlling modes of

movement, communication and exchange.

However, in the same city, when one looks closely at the

historic core, known as Centro, a different picture emerges. The core

represents an alive and active fabric that also forms the financial

center of the city. Centro or Downtown Rio is where the city started to

grow. It is a concentration of landmark buildings and structures,

monuments, parks and churches of historical and cultural interest.

Lapa is one of the better known neighborhoods, famous for its eating

joints, crowded plazas and active streets.

The concerns that arise after witnessing the effects of the

Costa masterplan for the Barra region, auto-oriented development and

density patterns in Barra, and the vibrancy, street life and identity seen

in many neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro, necessitate an urban form

comparison between these distinct patterns. This comparison serves

as a self-explanatory study of the shift in urbanity that Rio de Janeiro

is experiencing in Barra.

The proposals set forth in the Bid Document submitted for Rio

2016 are incorporated in this comparative study, to illustrate the

development pattern propogated by the government. The first part of

this comparison puts forth a Street Pattern Study and a Built Pattern

Study of the Bid Document Proposal for the Olympic and Media

Villages in contrast with Centro — downtown Rio de Janeiro, and

Copacabana.

The following conclusions are arrived at from the study:

a. Copacabana and Centro have much finer road networks and

connectivity than the Barra proposals.

b. Copacabana (27.48%) and Centro (32.69%) have a higher built

ground coverage than the Barra proposals (10.81% and 12.65%)

c. Copacabana and Centro have distinct open space networks (in

yellow) as compared to the Barra proposals. While Centro adopts a

network of small-scale interconnected open spaces (discussed in

previous chapters), Copacabana acknowledges the massive public

front the beach provides, and allows for fewer smaller public spaces.

d. Copacabana and Centro have walkable block sizes in spite of

continually varying dimensions. The shorter dimension of most

blocks is between 160’ and 240’. In comparison, the Barra block sizes

are either too large, as seen around the Convention Center and

Media Village site, or too linear and detached by highways, as seen

in most of Barra da Tijuca.

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Comparative Analysis of Urban Patterns

There are several distinct patterns of urban form visible in the

downtown core. The structure of the city core is almost self-evident in

the clarity with which it communicates its function and use, and the

seamless integration it allows with other uses while, at the same time,

maintaining distinct urban patterns for each. It is also possible to

identify strong axial interventions in the urban fabric. These strong

linkages connect the historic core with the residential neighborhoods,

and also with the natural features. As one studies the urban patterns,

it is clear that these interventions played a pivotal role in linking the

segregated developments and binding the city into a cohesive yet

distinct set of urban patterns that it is today.

In order to better understand this structure, a study of the

open space networks and historical landmarks in the downtown area

has been carried out.

The public open spaces in Rio de Janeiro follow a distinct logic

of interconnectivity. Open space configurations can be understood by

establishing 2-5 minute walking distance radii around them (Map A).

Sets of open-space networks emerge that are within 2-minute walking

distance from each other. The density of the network is apparent as

the 5-minute radius covers almost the entire downtown. Rather than a

single open space located in isolation as a relief to urban density, Rio

displays a much more intricate network of interconnected open spaces

that are within a 2 minute walking distance from each other. A set of

six interconnected spaces is studied in further detail

These open spaces also have a high level of Transparency, with

each space accessible from multiple angles and usually with 7-10

access points (Map B). The multiple access points and viewing angles

enable the viewer to form an understanding of all facades of the

squares. Multiple entrances to each urban place enhances accessibility

and transparency. Linkages within a walkable perimeter create

multiple possibilities of routing a journey to any place. The dense

network creates possibilities of recursive loops in journeys.

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Street Patterns and Built Fabric - Historic Core of Rio de Janeiro

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Map A: Structure and Legibility:

Map B: Transparency

Map C: Legibility and Significance

Map D: Network of Places

A similar walking distance analysis of historical landmarks in

the downtown area reveals grouping zones that have overlaps with the

open space networks (Map C). Sets of historic networks emerge that

are within a 2-minute walking distance from each other. Furthermore,

the open space network is congruent with this. These interconnected

volumes have an element of Significance, as each open space network

is loaded with multiple meanings, historical significance and memory.

This infuses the space with a Sense of Place.

Thus, not only does the transparency help us in forming a

more Legible individual space, but the interconnectedness and

overlaps with history also give these networks strong a Identity, that

relates to their cultural context.

The interconnectivity of the network generates a closed loop

circulation route that runs along the perimeter (Map D). Such a

journey connects open spaces and historical landmarks, while

establishing visual linkages with peripheral features. Thus, the

network of places is mentally unified to form a single, more vivid and

coherent whole.

The shortest walk covering all connected open space networks

covered in the analysis measures approximately 2,000 feet – a less

than 10 minute walk (Map E). The analysis also reveals that such a walk

is never more than two corners away from a re-establishment of visual

connection to the open squares. This is particularly interesting, as the

level of interest, and memory of the previous place is still quite vivid as

one encounters the next significant element. This proximity, coupled

with the significance of each open space has the capacity to then

develop into a narrative that a viewer discovers and interprets. It is the

presence of such a narrative that begins to inform people about a

sense of place, and enables them to form an Identity.

The analysis of such a distinct environment has the potential

to reveal not just one, but multiple narratives that may have been

embedded over time. It is also possible that these narratives

interweave within each other, and also connect other narratives

forming on the periphery of the study area, expanding in complexity

with the scale of the physical environment. The ability of a space to

generate such narratives that interconnect a series of places into a

coherent, unified whole is critical. This suggests that the narrative (a

story) is a crucial part of the formation of a Sense of Place and is a

crucial tool that enables contextual and layered design solutions.

The design for the Olympic Villages must acknowledge this

meta-narrative, and set it up as part of the bigger picture of the

Olympics as a mega-event. It should take one through various events

taking place along the timeline of the Olympic Games, tying together

the entire history and foreseeable future of a city in its course. The

urge to project an identity must be informed by its memory, for

without a memory, there is no identity.

Maulik Bansal

Maulik Bansal is an urban designer who graduated from University of

California, Berkeley. His Masters thesis was on the 2016 Summer Olympics in

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His work can be found on

(http://archinect.com/people/cover/19072813/maulik-bansal)5

Map E:

Identity: Integrating Significance, Structure, Legibility, Transparency