Recife journal, May 2012

By Eric van der Kooij, Spatial Planning Department Amsterdam


General background
From the 23rd until  the 28th of April a Dutch multi disciplined delegation was invited to come to Recife (4,1 mio inhabitants in the metropolitan area) to enhance further collaboration on the city’s planning aspects in the field of urban planning, water management, traffic control and cultural heritage.
The collaboration started a year ago and was initiated by ARCAM. It was based on the historic relations Recife with the Dutch. Since Prince Maurits was the founder of Mauritsstad in 1630, making Recife not only the new capital of Dutch Brazil until 1654. During this period, Mauritsstad became one of the most cosmopolitan cities of the world. Being such different cities in the first place, the question was what both cities could learn from each other.
In 2011 the ‘project’ started around 4 videoconferences where professionals changed ideas about planning aspects of the city. In addition Recife initiated a project by the School of Architecture called the Via Mangue. The project addressed the lack of integral planning approach illustrated by a new highway cutting through the mangroves and vulnerable neighbourhoods. Students were challenged to review the project as a whole and focus on several areas around the highway.
During this process it was not exactly defined what could or would become the impact of our mutual exchange. However in november 2011 ARCAM made an exposition of the Amsterdam/Recife Exchange showing the historic background of both cities and also contemporary challenges. It also showed the difference in planning approach and the momentum of change that both cities are undergoing and search for the right tools. Amsterdam from a top down planning approach to a bottom up approach (Structural vision 2040, Free State) and integrated planning of (waste) water management, mobility and cultural heritage. And Recife from an almost uncontrolled anarchistic planning approach towards a common and mutual understanding that is shifting the mindsets of the cultural elite and public collectives addressing a more cohesive and integrated planning approach.


So far so good.

Impressions and experience
As a result of the exhibition and in order to enhance our collaboration the Dutch were invite to come to Recife. The program resulted in a 4 day workshop with field excursions to the old city centre and a boat trip on the Capibaribe River, lectures from the Dutch and openings of the exhibition of the students and the Amsterdam/Recife Exchange. And finally the inauguration of Roberto Montezuma as president of CAU, an new organization that controls, protects and promotes the title of planning and architecture in Brazil.
The workshop was attended by professionals from private offices (mostly architects), universities, the municipality, the state heritage foundation and students and focused on the livability of the old city centre and the several aspects of the water system of the city in general.
Within this context we experienced Recife as a city where the speeds of change have different  directions and slowly we became aware of our well organized and orchestrated position in the field of public debate and political agendas with a growing consciousness and urge to create a livable city (occupy, facebook, public alert). 
Impression 1: Recife – Speeds of Change in different directions
Over the last 30-40 years Recife, as other Brazilian metropoles alike, experienced rapid growth.
But it is not since the last decade that this growth turned from gradually into far more explosive. Over the last 10 years population of the city grew to 1.5 mio inhabitants (municipality). Economic growth is demonstrated by the purchase of  3000 (small) cars every month (state) leading to a direct traffic infarct in the city centre. Public transport (mainly bus) is insufficient and biking is not only dangerous but also facing the humidity and tropical temperatures.
Pollution caused by cars, waste management and uncontrolled real estate (housing in towers) are out of bounce, threatening ecosystems (rivers and mangroves) and increasing the gap between rich and poor. The city turned its back to the river, once the backbone of development and trade,  bringing all these aspects together, now a collector of the poor and dumpsite for garbage.

‘Planning behind’ and ‘planning to prevent worse’ seems to be the adagio. Cultural heritage does have a strong position in the inner city but seems too much occupied by mere protection and preservation than stimulate solutions for new functions integrated in old buildings. Public space is reduced to parking zones and buildings tend to withdraw themselves from public encounters to the streets by making fences and walls, creating islands of comfort and safety leaving the streetscape an uncomfortable no go area.
But in general it seems that the lack of planning culture is more eminent. Although Brazil has a strong tradition in historic and modern architecture, architectural interventions are preferred over integral solutions (90% of all planning is covered by architects). The planning system itself is organized in a vertical way and enforced by strong governmental and political powers making Amsterdam approaches and solutions not to be copy pasted to Recife.


Impression 2: Recife – Momentum of Change as orchestrated intervention
On the other hand Recife is also a young vibrant city with lots of creative and enthusiastic people. New cars and motor cycles show economic prosperity and growth. A city filled with places where people meet and gather with a strong sense of communities. Where students still live with their parents and student housing is a strange word.
Being in Recife we felt the sense of urgency, urged by a group a cultural leaders and young urban professionals. A force that made our visit just more than a regular visit.  We were part of a well organized and defined momentum to rise public attention to the problems of Recife. Our visit was covered by camera, our lectures attended by over more than 300 people, and even our presence at the inauguration was carefully chosen. And finally the results of the workshop were published in the local newspaper the day after the presentation.

Challenges
With the World Cup 2014 (Recife is hosting 6 matches) and the Olympics in Rio in 2016 ahead the city faces new challenges that offers opportunities to fill in the blanks and make a huge step forward.
However solutions defined by projects alone are simply not enough. And momentum can be lost. In order to handle the basic and fundamental issues of planning it seems that the organization and political focus is part of the solutions.
In the workshop the question was raised if Recife already is a Metropole or merely an exploded city? What makes a city become or behave metropolitan besides its vertical skyline? Is it cosmopolitan in a way that you experience encounters of different cultures and international exchange.
What kind of a city does Recife want to become? What defines quality of life in Recife? And what are the small steps towards a process of integrated planning? And will it be possible to use and combine the force of communities to inspire people to have a vision on the future of Recife, creating an invitation to participate and activate.