Precariousness as a strategy, immersion as methodology: an architect’s approach to favela intervention

An Interview with Manoel Ribeiro

Abstract

Manoel Ribeiro, an architect and urban planner from Rio de Janeiro, discusses in this interview the importance of intervening sensitively from within the Brazilian favelas, highlighting the need to respect local practices and the existing culture. The role of the architect is valued, involving them ethically with communities, appreciating their traditional knowledge and the dynamics of each territory through 'immersive' processes. Ribeiro shares lived experiences from a process of active listening spanning more than five decades, recognizing the potential of informal and precarious solutions, with strategies for overcoming challenges. Flexibility, adaptability, and sustainability are key to his work, as he believes architecture must be sensitive to the dynamic and constantly transforming reality of informality, not only regarding physical structures but also in supporting the strengthening of social and cultural relationships within these spaces.