Landscape versus Urbanization

A contribution by Luiz Carvalho

In the four video conferences that preceded the 'rXa - Recife Exchange Amsterdam' exhibition in Amsterdam the contrasts and similarities in terms of planning practices in Recife and Amsterdam were already remarkable. So it was no surprise that during the seminar at the opening of the exhibition such comparisons would be more evident. Personally, apart from all that is well know about urban planning and architecture in The Netherlands, what surfaced as one of the main lessons that Recife and Brazilians can learn from the Dutch is their approach towards landscape.

Here in Brazil we tend to treasure and protect mainly the landscape that is still perceived as natural or at least with not much human interference. This seems not to be the case in The Netherlands.
During the seminar we had a sample of a major discussion about the project for the new IJmeer connection between Almere and Amsterdam. The main controversy in this case is related to the effect of the new infrastructure on the environment. From a Brazilian point of view, part of that discussion would be pointless: why so much concern about the environment in a region that has suffered successive interventions, such as dikes and landfills that made it hardly recognisable? That is one of the lessons I learned in that process, that all land that is still free from urbanization should be treasured and object of careful study.

I think we can blame our vast territory and our “endless” natural resources for that lack of attention, but urban sprawl is already inflicting severe problems in our cities and the lesson from Holland, where land resources are scarce, is more than ever, a guideline for the future.

The ‘spiral-up’ movement in which our economy is now makes the coexistence of urban areas and landscape inevitable. What must be tackled is how to make the most of that interaction, how to balance urbanization and quality of life. 

 Afsluitdijk

Luiz Carvalho (1972) is an architect and urbanist graduated at Pernambuco Federal University in 1995. Since 2007 works as manager at NTOU (Urban Renewal Unity) for the State Government of Pernambuco. He was awarded with the 2º prize in a national competion for Recife´s Forum and 1º prize in the competion for the Tacaruna Cultural Center in Olinda. Luiz Carvalho is one of the key persons in the rXa project.

Recife and the WIC revisited: Comprehensive Atlas of the Dutch West India Company

A couple of weeks ago the Grote Atlas van de West-Indische Compagnie / Comprehensive Atlas of the Dutch West India Company, part I, 1621-1674, was presented during the Atlantic Day which was organised by the Dutch National Archive in commemoration of the Unesco denomination of the archives of the WIC as part of the ‘Memory of the World’. Based on information from these archives and with facsimile’s of more than 500 original manuscript maps and topographical drawings, the atlas gives an overview of the developoments of the WIC since its foundation in 1621 and its activities in the Atlantic region during the first fifty years of its existence.

It took the WIC twenty years before one of its main aims was realised: severely damage the Spanish-Portuguese power in the Atlantic. Large profits were gained from privateering in the Caribbean and along the coast of Brazil, with the taking of the Spanish Silverfleet in 1628 by admiral Piet Heijn as the most striking - and lucrative - example. After the conquest of Olinda and Recife in 1630 hopes for large profits from the Brazilian sugar mills however were dashed by the fierce resistance by the inhabitants. It was not until 1641 that the sugar export to Holland became substantial. In the same year Luanda in Angola was conquered in order to ensure a steady supply of African slaves to work the sugar fields and mills.
For Elmina on the Gold Coast in present-day Ghana, conquered in 1637, the trade in gold was of prime importance; for New Amsterdam, now New York, the trade in beaver pelts.


The maps reproduced here and taken from the atlas, illustrate the different situations in the conquered territories.
1. New Amsterdam on the island of Manhattan at the time was not more than a fortified trading post surrounded by ‘bouwerijen’ or European farms. The fur trade with the Indians was located inland along the Hudson and Delaware.

Nieuw Amsterdam: (blad 51o) LoC G 3291.S12 coll. H3 Vault: Harr vol. 3 map 12  Manatus, Noord Rivier

2. The Portuguese fortress of Elmina was conquered but trade along the Gold Coast was totally dependent on contracts and good relations with the local sovereigns; colonisation was not yet an issue.

Elmina, Goudkust: (blad 379b) ONB VdHem 36:21  Elmina en S Jago in opstand  

3. The town of Luanda in Angola was built by the Portuguese where the Dutch occupied the existing buildings and only added some fortifications on the promontory.

Luanda, Angola: (blad 404) NA 4.VELH 619.63  Kaart van Luanda.

4. Olinda in Brazil was built on a hill. The Dutch however did not settle there but preferred the busy trade centre near the harbour on ‘the Recife’ where goods were shipped and ships unloaded, where the company warehouses were situated and were also the free traders settled. In time however Recife became overcrowded to such an extent that governor Johan Maurits had a new city designed, on the island of Antonio Vaz. Most people however preferred to stay in Recife and only a handful of houses were built in new Mauritsstad. The ambitious layout as shown on many maps remained just a dreamed ‘ideal city’.

Brazilië: (blad 243) ONB Atlas Stösch 298-01  Kaart van Recife en Mauritsstad

Information on the WIC atlas: www.asiamaior.nl

Bea Brommer
All images are from the WIC Atlas.

Report Seminar rXa - Recife Exchange Amsterdam 14.10.11

After months of virtual contact, the Amsterdam and Recife delegations finally met in person at the opening seminar of the rXa – Recife Exchange Amsterdam project. The main aim of the seminar was to give the audience an idea of how Recife and Amsterdam are working on their future. A clear vision emerged of two dynamic cities, with both professionals and citizens looking to enhance the quality of life while struggling with a changing planning and construction context. The discussion focussed on the question as to what Recife and Amsterdam might learn from each other.

The seminar started with a presentation on the development of Recife by Noe Sergio from Recife’s planning department. Like Amsterdam, Recife is situated in a low-lying area that has water as its main feature. The 'Dutch' core of the former Mauritsstad is an important node in the city, as is the southern district Boa Viagem. The main challenge at the moment is to improve connections between the various parts of the city. The fact that most of the land in Recife is privately owned makes it difficult for the city council to implement a strategic plan.

Eric van der Kooij from Amsterdam’s planning department linked his presentation on Amsterdam to this issue. Because most of the land in Amsterdam is owned by the city, a strong planning tradition was able to flourish for decades. The economic crisis is currently forcing the city council to plan with fewer resources. Instead of 'over controlling' the development processes, we should seek to activate the various players in the construction process in order to make a better city.

The discussion started with this topic. The Recifians stated that in Recife a long-term planning strategy is lacking. The planning horizon extends to 2014, the year in which the World Cup will take place. They see Amsterdam’s 2040 Structure Plan as an inspiration to connect the various plans and ambitions and persuade the participants in the construction process to work according to an overarching strategy. Both Amsterdam and Recife professionals noted that the era of large-scale construction projects is over. The fast pace of the market, difficulties getting financing (Amsterdam) and controlling building land (Recife) make a more flexible approach essential.

In order to achieve these goals, 'communication' would seem to be the magic word. Communication between architects, commissioners and the city council, and between planners and the public.

In this respect, it is important to have overarching goals that go further than building housing and infrastructure. Improving the quality of water – so omnipresent in both cities – is a good example. Paulien Hartog from Waternet, Amsterdam’s water company, pointed out the importance of connecting water management and city planning. Julien Ineichen, architect in Recife and initiator of the 'I want to swim in the Caipibaribe' project, stressed the importance of making citizens aware of their power but also of their responsibility to improve water quality in Recife.

Karin Westerink from Amsterdam’s Monuments and Archaeology Department observed that heritage is a good topic to get citizens involved in the development of their cities. Heritage represents a city’s historical story and gives a city its unique character.

The second half of the seminar focussed on two projects: the District Park Project in Recife: a student research project in response to a major infrastructural scheme, the 'Via Mangue' (Mangrove highway) and the IJmeer Line, a proposed public transport link between Amsterdam and Almere through IJmeer. A number of comparable conclusions can be drawn from these two schemes. It is of great value to make such large-scale projects more than just infrastructural works. They should be integrated projects that also address issues such as the development of neighbouring districts and the nature areas they pass through.

Over the coming months, the participants in the project will reflect on the themes in greater depth. In discussing the various topics, they will try to grasp the essence of the exchange project: how will Recife and Amsterdam benefit from sharing knowledge and how can they inspire each other to move forward?

Photos: Jan-Dirk van der Burg

Exhibition rXa - Recife Exchange Amsterdam opens at ARCAM, Amsterdam Centre for Architecture, at 14 October 2011

 
Photo: Thiago Pedrosa


ARCAM is presenting the results of a knowledge exchange between Brazilian and Dutch architects regarding future perspectives for Amsterdam and Recife, a city in northeastern Brazil. The exhibition will be opened on 14 October at 17.15, preceded by a seminar.

“We need to go from blueprint to zone planning” (Amsterdam team)
“We need to go from zoning to blueprint planning” (Recife team)
 
Both cities are on the threshold of major changes: In Amsterdam, the economic crisis appears to have put an end to the traditional top-down planning culture once and for all, whereas Recife, by contrast, is searching for ways of lending cohesion to bottom-up driven developments.
A dialogue between the two cities is interesting because of their spatial similarities, born of their historical ties. Recife, originally a Portuguese sea-port, was enlarged by the Dutch in the seventeenth century and, like Amsterdam, is a water city. What can be learned from that so very different city, which was in essence once the same?

With: a brief overview of Amsterdam’s and Recife’s history by means of a visual timeline; four high-profile future projects; short films; T-shirt Exchange (swap your Amsterdam T-shirt for a limited edition rXa shirt from Recife).

14.10.11 Seminar & Opening Exhibition rXa at ARCAM, Amsterdam Centre for Architecture
Location: ARCAM, Prins Hendrikkade 600, Amsterdam, www.arcam.nl
Seminar: 2-5 pm / Opening: 5.15 pm
Admission seminar: € 15
Spoken language: English
Please sign up via arcam@arcam.nl

15.10.11 - 26.11.11 Exhibition rXa - Recife Exchange Amsterdam 
ARCAM, Prins Hendrikkade 600, Amsterdam
Open: Tue-Sat, 1-5 pm
Admission free
www.arcam.nl

The project is organized in cooperation with Brazil expert Paul Meurs, the University of Pernambuco, the municipality of Recife, the state of Pernambuco and the Instituto de Arquitetos do Brasil (IAB, Institute of Brazilian Architects). The Amsterdam advisory board consists of the Amsterdam Planning Department (DRO), the Monuments & Archeology Department (BMA), Waternet and the Department of Infrastructure and Traffic (DIVV).

The project takes place during the Brasil Festival Amsterdam (www.brasilfestival.nl) and the Ano da Holanda no Brasil (Holland year) (www.anodaholandanobrasil.com.br).

 
rXa is powered by Stimuleringsfonds voor Architectuur, het Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, the Brazilian Embassy in the Nederlands, the Dutch Embassy in Brasil and Microsoft.



Flora van Gaalen

From pollution to solution - Video conference # 4 – 05.07.11

During the fourth video conference three mayor issues were discussed: the final student plans on the Via Mangue project, the plan for revitalizing the inner city of Recife and the water situation in Recife. Since the first two subjects were extensively described in earlier posts, we will now focus on the water issue.

In Amsterdam cleaner water and a nice waterfront turn out to be huge assets for the identity of a location and a better liveability of an area. The water also offers opportunities to generate sustainable energy. In all these matters it's very important to have the community involved. How are these things going in Recife?

There is a big problem in Recife with pollution of the surface water by sewage because the sewage system is very basic. Architect Julien Ineichen investigates ways to work on a better sanitation system using architecture. A key thing is to tackle the cultural problem that the Recifens don't seem to care for cleaner water. For this purpose he conducts the campaign 'Eu quero nadar no Capibaribe, e voce?/I want to swim in the Capibaribe, and you?'. Via a website (http://capibaribe.info/, http://swimmingtherivers.net/) and regular events he aims to create a positive identity of the Capibaribe and invites the public to participate.

Paulien Hartog from Waternet is impressed by the project; it seems to be a good initiative to trigger community involvement. The main question if people are willing to change their behaviour, is a challenge in Amsterdam as well. We may have a good 'top-down system' but we have to combine it with bottom-up initiatives. A nice reference are swimming pools in the river like they have in Amsterdam, Kopenhagen and Berlin. People can experience what it would be like to swim in the river.

Regarding the sewerage system in Recife, this should obviously be improved. In Amsterdam we have an efficient system, but because this 'traditional' system is firmly in place, newer, better systems are difficult to implement. Having areas with no system at all is sometimes a good thing, so you can immediately start with realizing the best solutions.

Ana Virginia from COMPESA (Sanitation company of Pernambuco) explains how Recife is working on better water sanitation. The sewerage system is facilitated by Compesa, the public water drainage by the municipality. The two networks sometimes are interconnected – without the owners knowing! - which often leads to overuse. Together with private parties they now are working on a project to provide sewerage for the whole metropolitan region of Recife.

    Hanneke's Boom Amsterdam

A main challenge, both in Recife and in Amsterdam, is how to make sure drainage and sanitation solutions are integrated in urban development.

Flora van Gaalen

Students project: Transforming Via Mangue's territory into a District Park.

In video conference #4 the student's project presented a new concept of how to intervene in the area of study. Since there is a lack of green and public spaces in Boa Viagem and Pina's districts the idea is to expand the mangrove into the city, by transforming these districts into a District Park. The main objective of this concept is to highlight and to create new public and green spaces throughout the area providing a new pleasant environment where the citizens and the city interact.

One of the main challenges of this project is how to trespass the barrier created by the Via Mangue's construction. Although this freeway promises to relief Recife's chaotic traffic, other negative aspects of its design and characteristics must be discussed, such as the fact it does not contemplate public transportation, it mostly blocks the view and the access to the mangrove and it does not present any sustainable solutions.

The students developed ten different macro plans according to the concept of a District Park, indicating possible solutions for social and urban problems, which may already pre-exist or appear as a result of Via Mangue. One of the projects is the one located in a Zone of Special Social Interest (ZEIS). This project's proposal seeks to break high-density blocks and to transform the neighbourhood into an open and healthy space, guarantying a better quality of life the community.

After October's exposition at ARCAM the students intend to expose this project to Recife's City Hall to provoke a debate among the citizens about Recife's urban problems and necessities; projects developed by public/private partnership and, most importantly, what is their opinion and suggestions concerning these subjects.

Amanda Dias, Morgana Lima and Fernanda Lins

I Amsterdam, We’Recife

ARCAM organized a workshop with Robson Canuto da Silva (State of Pernambuco), Cristiano Borba do Nascimento (Fundaj) and George Alex Da Guia (Iphan) who participated in the Course on Urban Heritage Strategies organized by IHS and the Netherlands Cultural Heritage Agency.

ARCAM invited some Dutch architects, urban planners and researchers to get an introduction on Recife and discuss the state of affairs in urban planning in Amsterdam and Recife and more specifically the case that Robson, Cristiano and George are working on, namely the 'revitalisation of the historical inner city of Recife'. Special guests are Martine de Wit (DUS Architects), Johan Rasmussen (Cities), Jaap Klarenbeek (Studio Rosa), Karla Gutierrez (DRO) and Zineb Seghrouchni (Okra/Studio Papaver).

Recife is the fifth biggest city of Brasil and one of the oldest capitals. Originally Recife was the port of Olinda, a settlement founded by the Portuguese. In 1630 it was conquered by the Dutch who firmly 'founded' Recife by adding 'Mauritsstad' which was connected to Bairro do Recife by the first bridge of the Americas and has a Dutch urban outlay that is still visible today.

Nowadays this part of the old inner city is very crowded between 7am and 5pm with all kinds of commercial activities. But because people don't live there, after 5pm it gets quiet and dangerous. 

The case that Robson, Cristiano and George are working on is how to revitalize the area to make it more attractive and safe by respecting and even articulating the heritage as a value. They focus on the crossing of the Av. Dantas Barreto and the Av. Guararapes. The municipality wants to attract the creative industry to take root in this district.

Overall it is important to note that Recife does not have one overarching master plan for the development of the city, but that developments are guided by zoning plans. Most of the land is privately owned, what makes it difficult for the government to implement a coherent vision. At the same time one could say this makes the city very flexible since private investors can quickly respond to demands from the market.

Some remarks, recommendations and questions mentioned in the workshop are:

- Use the fabric shops and haberdasherries to make a connection with the creative people (like fashion designers) that could be interested to live/have their studios in the area. Start from the existing activities!

- Suggest architectural interventions to make living above the shops possible (also a challenge in Amsterdam and Utrecht!)

- Think about how preservation of heritage and tourism are related. Is there a strong link and could tourism be used to attract investors in heritage?

- The most special feature of this area in Recife is that it is surrounded by water. Highlight this aspect by showing ways in which this area could open up more to the water. (Amsterdam is also reorienting towards the water!)

- Amsterdam could learn from Recife how to 'plan' with less means. More collaboration with private parties, letting loose control, create space for self initiative and work on a smaller scale could be suggestions.

Flora van Gaalen

Course on Urban Heritage Strategies – 24.06.11

Within the framework of rXa, ARCAM collaborates with the Netherlands Cultural Heritage Agency and Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies that organized a ‘Course on Urban Heritage Strategies’. The course was tailored towards professionals who work in a number of selected cities and countries with heritage that (partly) has Dutch roots. Brazil is one of them and three architects that participate in rXa (Cristiano Borba, Robson Canuto and George da Guia) participated in the course. The course aimed to build the capacity of its participants to formulate and implement strategies for heritage in cities with its focus on urban heritage in inner-city locations. All the participants had to work on an action plan to propose further development of a certain case in their home country.

ARCAM organized an excursion for the whole group of participants that showed how Amsterdam deals with heritage near its inner city. After an introduction by Bureau of Monuments and Archeology on the Amsterdam heritage policy we visited Westergasfabriek and NDSM-werf.

The research case of the professionals from Recife consists of a plan for revitalization of the old inner city and former harbour from Recife. This historical core of the city consists of the Bairro do Recife and São Antonio that used to be called ‘Mauritsstad’ and was constructed by the Dutch during the reign of Maurits van Nassau from 1636 tot 1643. The ‘Dutch’ urban outlay is still visible. Nowadays it is a lively urban area until 5 pm, but after that time it is completely empty. How can the existing heritage help to make a coherent neighbourhood that is more lively and safe? In their research they posed different questions like: what is the value of shared heritage, what opportunities does redevelopment of urban heritage offer and can urban heritage awareness be enhanced?

Flora van Gaalen

Top down/Bottom up - Video conference #3 - 14.06.11

An important issue on the agenda of video conference #3 is the situation of public/private partnership in Recife and Amsterdam. In Recife, traditionally the government is only involved in checking the building plans with the zoning laws. But this seems to be shifting. There are some examples of projects in which the municipality or the state take an active stance in development and realization. A challenge is how the Recife government could promote a coherent vision of the future and at the same time stimulate private parties and the public to work according to this vision. The Amsterdam team illustrates how traditional ways of public/private partnership are also changing. Traditionally the city government owns about 80% of the land and hands it out in land-lease constructions. This makes it possible to control planning. The design of public space, masterplans for a certain area, the zoning plan and selection of developing parties are all in public hands. Because of the economic crisis a lot has changed though. Developing parties already leased a lot of land, but don't have money anymore to develop. Other private parties that are eager to develop are stepping forward, but they don't have access to the land. So, things need to change, we need a new kind of planning and a different way of public/private partnership. How can we shift from top-down planning to a more bottom-up way to do this? 

Maybe by making less strict masterplans and relying more on zone planning like in Recife. An important thing to think about on both sides is to find out what kind of (relatively small) interventions could have a huge effect. What are the ambitions of the cities and what inspiration do we want to give to the public? In other words: what story do we want to tell?

Another issue for the discussion was the Via Mangue project. Last conference the students presented possible master plans suggesting adaptations of the official plan. The Via Mangue is an elevated highway from the city district Boa Viagem along the mangrove to the old city centre. It is clear that the Via Mangue will worsen certain problems like the lack of open, public spaces, a good connection between the Mangrove and the sea and overall liveability of the area. The Via Mangue will be another barrier. The students suggest specific projects to tackle these problems, partly inspired by the Amsterdam feedback that stated examples of the Amstel river banks development and ways to make a connection with the inhabitants by improving public space and making it more green. 

Some aspects of the projects are: more green spaces, solutions for relocating population (that has to move because of Via Mangue construction), cultural centres to open up the Mangrove area to the public, infrastructural solutions like a cable way, a multifunctional station and boulevards. The Amsterdam team suggests that it is important to think about priorities. What is essential to get a transition started? This helps to connect the projects to the masterplan again and produce a strong integral design.

Flora van Gaalen

Blueprint vs. zoning planning - Video conference #2 - 24.05.11

‘We have to move from blueprint to zone planning’ (Amsterdam)
‘We want to go more from zoning to overall vision planning’ (Recife)
 
The second conference started with a presentation by the students on the Via Mangue project. The students approached the Via Mangue from the themes heritage, water and mobility. Challenges are: integrate borders, create a complex totality, integrate natural and built heritage, transform a freeway into an avenue park, create open spaces for social interactions and integrate the mangrove, the river and the ocean. The fact that the Via Mangue seems a purely infrastructural project makes it difficult to find integrated solutions. The Amsterdam side wonders if there is a basic vision from the government on the future of Recife and how the Via Mangue project fits in. The Recife team explains there is no overall strategy like the Structural Vision 2040 in Amsterdam but that they use a zoning plan: Plano director: http://www.recife.pe.gov.br/pr/secplanejamento/planodiretor/. 

 
Foto: Meriam de Lange

The infrastructure and water situation in Recife are pretty dramatic and because the ecological situation is very different from Amsterdam, cases are hard to compare. Waternet remarks that in the sixties the Amsterdam canals were also very polluted, but that this doesn't mean it cannot change. 

Despite the challenges, a lot of projects are realized in Recife. Big infrastructural projects are implemented by the government and building projects on a smaller scale are initiated by private parties. This market oriented way of building incorporates a high level of flexibility that Amsterdam envies. Recife on the other hand admires the strong planning tradition in Amsterdam. Although the Recifian municipality has suggested some long term visions for certain areas (like the former harbour area in de Bairro do Recife) these are difficult to 
implement. 

The discussion shifted to the fact that Amsterdam is turning its face towards the water again with the development of the Northern and Southern IJ banks. In Recife a similar trend is visible, although the public still doesn’t value the water as highly because of the poor conditions. How could things get better?

Flora van Gaalen

Do you Recife? – Video conference #1 – 19.04.11

‘Water seems to be the power of Amsterdam, but the problem of Recife’

In cooperation with Microsoft Amsterdam and Microsoft Recife, ARCAM initiated a series of video conferences with architects and urban planners from both cities. The Recife team consists of among others representatives of the University of Pernambuco, the municipality of Recife, the state of Pernambuco and the IAB (Institute for architects). On the Amsterdam side the contributers are representatives form the Urban Planning Department (DRO), water company Waternet, Bureau for Monuments and Archeology (BMA) and the Infrastructure Department (DIVV).

The first conference started with general introductions on the development of Amsterdam and Recife up until this day. The municipality of Amsterdam just launched the ‘Structural Vision 2040’. Four important development movements are: rolling out the city centre, interweaving the Metropolitan landscape and the city, the rediscovery of the waterfront and the internationalization of the southflank.

Check for more information: http://www.dro.amsterdam.nl/publish/pages/359143/plan-01-2011-eng.pdf

In Recife the delta of the Pina, Beberibe and Capibaribe rivers is central to the city and its development. The development of Recife started on Barrio do Recife and Sao Antonio, then moved inland to Sao Jose. Because of a flood in the 1970/80’s the city extended even further. The last decades the Boa Viagem district on the south side is very popular. A mayor challenge is how to improve mobility and realize urban design that respects and improves the natural environment.

After these general introductions the topics ‘water’, ‘heritage’ and ‘infrastructure’ were discussed more specifically.

Foto: Meriam de Lange

Flora van Gaalen

Via Mangue

The Department of Archtecture of the University of Pernambuco linked the rXa project to a specific course for second year students. The subject of research was the 'Via Mangue' project: a freeway along the mangrove area that will connect the southern Boa Viagem district to the inner city of Recife. Because this is a project in which water, heritage and infrastructure ultimately come together, it is an interesting case to discuss with professionals from Recife and Amsterdam. The huge infrastructural operation has been on the drawing board for over a decade, but is only now being constructed. It is questionable though, if the plan is still up to date. The students took a critical look at the existing plan, formulated its weaknesses and suggested interventions to combine the Via Mangue with better public space, better connections between the mangrove and the coastal area and different ways of transporation. They also figured out ways to raise awareness on the importance and natural richness of the mangrove.

During the series of video conferences that ARCAM organized with representatives from Amsterdam and Recife the 'Via Mangue Student Project' was a returning issue on the agenda. Every conference the students showed their work in progress, got feedback from the group and discussed possible linkages to Amsterdam projects.

For more information on the official Via Mangue project, check:

http://www.recife.pe.gov.br/pr/secplanejamento/viamangue.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlwuR0-x-Rc

Flora van Gaalen

Amsterdam loves Recife

Last December (2010), ARCAM (director Maarten Kloos and project manager Flora van Gaalen) and architect and Brazil expert Paul Meurs visited Recife to meet some of the key persons of the project. At first we were overwhelmed by the humidity, the traffic and the feeling of entering a completely different universe. But after the first day - as we got sucked into the cities energy - Recife started to unravel itself to us bit by bit. This was ofcourse due to the warm welcome of our Recifian hosts: we met people from the University of Pernambuco, the municipality of Recife, the state of Pernambuco and the IAB (Instituto de Arquitetos do Brasil/the Brazilian 'BNA'). They took us on intensive tours through the city during which we discussed the current situation in Recife and Amsterdam and explained to each other how we are working on the future.

Recife is a city that consists of many different layers. There is the Dutch core of Bairro do Recife and Sao Antonio (former Mauritsstad), the Portuguese layer on top of this and ofcourse 'Brazilian' Recife that has grown to be the fourth biggest metropolitan area of Brazil. Recurrent subjects of the talks with our Brazilian counterparts were the omnipresence of the water in both our cities, the way we deal with heritage and the infrastructural challanges that we face. We decided to take these three themes - water, heritage and infrastructure - as the basis of our exchange project.

 Flora van Gaalen

We're in a Recife state of mind

Recife is the capital of the state of Pernambuco and is situated in the northeast of Brazil. Originally Recife was the harbour of the Portuguese city of Olinda. When the Dutch West India Company defeated the Portuguese in 1630 they burned down Olinda and settled in Recife. The city remained under Dutch rule until 1654. The city experienced a prosperous period during the reign of Maurice of Nassau, from 1636 to 1643, which is remembered with nostalgia to this day. During this period the first bridge of the Americas was build to connect the harbour to ‘Mauritsstad’ (nowadays São Antonio) that still has a recognizable Dutch urban outlay. The city is protected by an elongated black reef (in Portuguese ‘recife’) and lies in the delta of the rivers Beberibe and Capibaribe. Recife is known as the ‘Venice of Brazil’ because of the great many bridges over these two rivers in the city centre.

rXa – Recife Exchange Amsterdam

ARCAM, Amsterdam Centre for Architecture, is working on an exchange of knowledge between Brazilian and Dutch architects on the cities of Amsterdam and Recife. A dialogue between these two cities is very interesting because they have an historical link that is also expressed spatially. Recife was founded by the Dutch in the seventeenth century, which is still evident in, for example, the street pattern of the old centre and in a series of forts along the coast. A relevant question in that respect is how Recife manages this ‘Dutch’ heritage. Another feature is the dominant presence of water: both cities are located in a delta and both thus have problems, but also opportunities, created by water.

In Recife and in Amsterdam, far-reaching measures must be taken with regard to the future; measures that must be aimed at renewal, while at the same time they must also be in keeping with historical achievements. 

How are both cities working on the future and what can they learn from each other? 

The project will among others contain an exhibition at ARCAM opening on 14 October 2011, during the Brasil Festival Amsterdam. The coming months we will intensify the dialogue and keep you posted via this blog.

 Flora van Gaalen