Ingels + Nakazawa on Rio

Jul 2010

By Karen Cilento — Filed under: Architecture News ,Urban Planning , BIG, Brazil, Paul Nakazawa, Rio de Janeiro

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Bjarke Ingles

In the August-July 2010 edition of The Economist, Bjarke Ingels and Paul Nakazawa examined Brazil’s potential to undergo a “new urban revolution” with the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics Games. With these two major events being hosted by the same country, Brazil will need to implement long term strategies for properly equipping the areas. Yet, the real solution lies in the country’s “improvements for the large local population rather than merely servicing the temporary needs of the global tourists and the world press.”

More about the article after the break.

These thoughts will be the focus of Ingels and Nakazawa’s fall studio at Harvard this upcoming semester where they will challenge design students and business students to create self-sustaining and efficient models for Rio. The exercise will urge students to create practical ideas that will be profitable on not only a social or environment scale, but also on an economical scale.

The strategies cannot be quick fixes to patch Brazil’s problems. Brazil needs thoroughly developed ideas that can grow and still be successful long after the events have run their course. Ingels and Nakazawa understand that this is the perfect opportunity for Rio to invest in a complete urban upgrade, and it will be exciting to see how their mentoring will influence the studio.

“If we have an interest in social issues we need to design business models that improve the living conditions of the poor as a byproduct of a profitable process. We need to design eco systems – systems of both economy and ecology – that operate like urban perpetual motion engines – in dependant of charity but rather processes triggered by investment,” explained Bjarke and Nakazawa.

Cite:
Cilento , Karen . "Ingels + Nakazawa on Rio" 21 Jul 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed 10 Feb 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/69731>

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Fernando says:

I´m from Brazil and I afraid which these games, because the political in Brazil approved some laws that hide all the projects and money spending in this events.

# July 21, 2010 at 11:36

Albert says:

See the last sentence: “…in dependant of charity but rather processes triggered by INVESTMENT”.
The last word is the key. There should be massive financial support from the government, from institutional investors, from the private sector in order to implement any architectural / urban ideas. Otherwise it will all start and end in theoretical studio at the Harvard. Let’s be realistic. And in reality money comes first.
If there is no serious funds we will get another ugly-looking development, another piece of hideous architecture
http://bit.ly/bXEzmj

# July 21, 2010 at 12:50

ME says:

Ahhh – I don’t think there is an article. First off, the Economist is weekly – not bi-monthly. Secondly, the ‘Brazil Takes Off’ issue was published in 2009. The cover displayed on the Harvard GSD site is a slice of studio propoganda! Maybe someday the Economist will publish an architect, but I’m afraid this is not that day. Provocative yes, but it stops there. Regardless, the studio looks to engage some interesting issues…

# July 21, 2010 at 13:57

sergio says:

It’ very strange that there’s no article about this issue on The Economist.

# July 25, 2010 at 19:39

João says:

I agree with what Albert just said. Investments come first, and, unfortunately, what our recent history in Brazil shows, the government and the private investments will be put not on the best ideas, but on those ones fitting their desires… also, it’s not that easy, even for qualified people and professionals, try to find a solution to a problem that’s miles away from them… we only have 4 years to develop and implement a plan… LET’S WORK HARD!!!!

# July 21, 2010 at 14:34

Anton says:

Although I have the utmost respect for BIG, I do not believe that starchitects can solve these issues. Brazil does not need architectural icons but rather thoughtful,integrated and unselfish design processes that will yield sustainable solutions that are contextually and environmentally grounded. It amazes me how much shine and credit big international architectural pactices have received and how little exposure the local practices recieved here in South Africa for their contributions on the stadium designs as well as its associated infra-structure. If I was Brazil I would learn from these firms and practices that put their smart egos aside and made the 2010 SWC a success!

# July 21, 2010 at 16:06

Good point indeed, Anton. I like it. That’s a very professional attitude. Let architects do their jobs for real and let STARchitects to shine for the PR.
Here’s the poll:
http://archialternative.com/2010/07/22/poll-starchitects-geniuses-or-not/

# July 22, 2010 at 14:23

Howard Roark says:

Hmm, way to research to see if the article even existed!

# July 22, 2010 at 11:27

Paolo says:

You people are way too serious. The subject matter is serious, but it is not exclusive intellectual territory, and besides, the parties who hold the levers of power do more-or-less as they please. We can only hope to influence them with (hopefully good ideas.

# July 25, 2010 at 00:12

12:21 PM Jul 21st

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Jeff Zerr

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12:23 PM Jul 21st

Josei Nagayassu

BIG sobre o brasil…
http://tinyurl.com/2d79km9

12:32 PM Jul 21st

O. ARQUITECTOS SRS

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