This book examines Rio de Janeiro as an unequal city, addressing its relationship with the chronic problem of socio-spatial segregation. From this starting point, it explores the concept of "city supply," seeking to distinguish itself from approaches informed by the urban standards of the formal city. Urban infrastructure projects have historically been conceived according to a strictly utilitarian, monofunctional logic, with little integration into the urban and social contexts in which they are implemented. By mapping instances of informal appropriation of designed infrastructure within the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area, the work identifies and constructs a series of alternative spatial and functional categories capable of contributing to the planning of a more hybrid, resilient, and inclusive city. The publication is divided into an initial theoretical section, followed by an extensive collection of case studies referred to as the "body of evidence." This section presents instances of the observed informalities, alongside critical essays.
Published in December 2024 in a bilingual Portuguese-English format, the book has already been presented in Paris, France (École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Paris-Malaquais), Brasília (FAU UnB), New Delhi, India (School of Planning and Architecture, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Jamia Millia Islamia University), Rio de Janeiro (FAU UFRJ), and São Paulo. On all these occasions, the book has been exceptionally well-received.
