Marcio Oliveira

Note: The following is a shortened version of the graduate report prepared for the Minimum Cost Housing Group (MCHG) of McGill University, Montreal. This report was written by myself, along with Cesar Gonzales, Tong Gan, Yue Li, Annalyn Maribbay and Alejandro Lopez.   Proposals for Physical Aspects Community Level Community Self-Help Centre:  The proposed Community Centre would be located on the current plot along street 21 and street 7. This vacant plot has large trees, which shall remain, and also an existing open shed. This is where the school was formerly located.  The area being accessible from the main entrance to the community by primary streets makes it an ideal place for important social gatherings. Several community activities would be encouraged to be held there:  Education and Training:  A self-help centre was located within this area, catering for the residents' needs and helping define the upgrading process. This is where educatio...

Note: The following is a shortened version of the graduate report prepared for the Minimum Cost Housing Group (MCHG) of McGill University, Montreal. This report was written by myself, along with Cesar Gonzales, Tong Gan, Yue Li, Annalyn Maribbay and Alejandro Lopez.   Second Layer: Design Proposals Objectives The main objective of these proposals is to provide the community of La Esperanza, as well as the local governmental agencies, with a sound base from which they can, in a progressive and self-sustainable manner, improve the living conditions of the settlement. The role of the upgrading process, though, should be defined not by itself, but by the end users, which must participate in all stages of its planning and development. The methodology for implementation assumes that people will be willing to take most of the action in their hands and invest part of their time, labor, and incomes in an effort that will eventually benefit all. Therefore, the main requirements for...

PART 1 of 4 Note: The following is a shortened version of the graduate report prepared for the Minimum Cost Housing Group (MCHG) of McGill University, Montreal. This report was written by myself, along with Cesar Gonzales, Tong Gan, Yue Li, Annalyn Maribbay and Alejandro Lopez. Introduction Usually one of the most frequently asked questions regarding the adoption of different approaches that deal with the issue of informal settlements is: relocate or consolidate? What are the advantages of upgrading and when should this approach be adopted? What are the lessons from the past that we should bring into consideration? It has been said that the relocation approach increases land use efficiency and improves the physical condition of houses by resettling the community in areas that are "more suitable" to urban living standards. Very often, governmental housing agencies rely on purely orthodox methodologies in order to identify the problems faced by poor communities and sele...