Wall Spaces

'Cidade dos Muros' (City of walls), is one of São Paulo’s nicknames. Since the 1980s  walls and fences were constructed due to security concerns, which have resulted in physical separations between buildings and the street, and between the private and the public. The 'Wall Spaces' project explores how walls and fences can enrichen both sides of a wall and how public spaces could be created because of the wall structure. 'Wall Spaces' investigates the potential of a different strategy turning the barrier into a place where human interaction may take place, rather than separating people.

The ‘Wall Spaces’ catalogue includes an analysis of 24 selected walls and fences along Avenida Angélica, a busy street in São Paulo. The catalog shows the physical variations through texts and drawings, but more importantly, the different social implications.

São Paulo context

Walls and fences and how they affect urban space and life, is widely discussed in Brazil. The development pattern can be traced back to the 1980s, driven by the fear of the rise in crime along with security becoming a private concern, rather than a governmental and political one.

As walls and fences have become part of the urban morphology, the city´s construction regulations have followed. In 2004, the permitted height of the walls and fences increased from 3 to 4 meters. In 2015, however, a new regulation only allows new wall construction to be 25% massive, the remining percentage should be open or transparent.

As privatization of security in Sao Paulo has increased, walls and fences have turned into a luxury commodity not everyone can afford. Consequently

The street Avenida Angélica

Avenida Angélica stretches through the central neighborhood of Higienópolis, and the street is an important transportation route between the city center and São Paulo’s main business street Avenida Paulista. 2,100 cars pass by per hour (rush hour number) and it’s also a busy route for pedestrians and bus commuter. Higeniópolis has for long - and is still- regarded an attractive area in the city, bordering less valued and central areas. Avenida Angélica could be said to be a cross-section of the population of São Paulo, due to its wide range of different types of housing blocks, offices, commercial services, with dwellers and visitors from different demographic and social groups. However, only around 12% of ground floor is accessible for the pedestrian - and there are no public spaces above or on the underground level which is extensively used for car parking. The many roof tops in the area are equipped with helicopter landing platforms.

Project proposals

The project ‘Wall Spaces’ investigates how the wall can have both a social and technical purpose, rather than being a separating structure. São Paulo is also one of many cities suffering from a great water deficit. The latest water crisis in 2016 led people to drilling for wells on their private property. The project includes public wells and aims to increase the potential of rainwater harvesting in the rain season with connections to existing infrastructure. The project is of a strategic character, applicable to different sites and situations. One of the identified sites in the project has been chosen as a pilot project showcasing opportunities.