The Favela Cloud is a refreshing take on Brazil's famed favelas. This design, created by Kemo Usto, Thiru Manickam and Johan Kure, attempts to create a new school of thought on favela architecture. The Favela Cloud was designed specifically for Brazil's Santa Marta favela. The cloud is made up of a series of three-dimensional buildings, raised high above the ground by metal rods. The space is designed for mixed use, with housing units, a library, offices and a park all combined into one structure.
The raised design of the cloud is purposeful, as it allows them to provide shade for the area immediately below. The unique design of the Favela Cloud allows for it to fit snugly in a tight spot. This is good, as favelas are notoriously cramped, with new construction often coming at the loss of existing houses.
Suspended Slum Structures
The Favela Cloud Provides Ultra-Modern Living for Brazil's Poorest
Trend Themes
1. Innovative Favela Architecture - The Favela Cloud presents a new school of thought on favela architecture, offering a refreshing and innovative approach to housing design in Brazil's favelas.
2. Vertical Mixed-use Structures - The Favela Cloud demonstrates the potential of combining housing units, a library, offices, and a park within a single raised structure, paving the way for vertical mixed-use developments in urban areas.
3. Sustainable Urban Design - The raised design of the Favela Cloud not only provides shade, but also creates opportunities for sustainable urban design in densely populated areas, optimizing space utilization and minimizing the loss of existing houses.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture and Construction - The Favela Cloud introduces disruptive innovation opportunities in favela architecture, inspiring architects and builders to rethink the design of affordable housing in urban slums.
2. Real Estate Development - The concept of vertical mixed-use structures, as demonstrated by the Favela Cloud, presents exciting possibilities for real estate developers to create innovative and efficient urban living spaces that combine various functions within a single building.
3. Urban Planning and Design - The sustainable and space-efficient design of the Favela Cloud opens up avenues for urban planners and designers to explore new strategies for optimizing resources, addressing housing shortages, and improving living conditions in densely populated urban areas.