Intervention in Rocinha

A design intervention based on the concept of urban grafting is proposed at the city scale, with the potential to generate a new landscape through repetition.

The intervention is located in Rocinha, an underserved neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With the aim of improving the quality of life for its residents, a subterranean circulation system is introduced, extending across the hillside and connecting different areas of the neighborhood. Given the high density of the area, this underground network provides a continuous route through the settlement, while a series of large skylights bring natural light and ventilation into the spaces below. At strategic points throughout the neighborhood, public plazas are carved out of the urban fabric, each defined by a distinctive landmark.

These spaces function both as places for social interaction and as points of orientation in the neighborhood. Through the repetition and rhythm of these interventions, the project seeks to create a new urban landscape while strengthening connections within Rocinha, improving its public realm.