Within Formal Cities

Gallery

"Within Formal Cities" is a project by Abe Drechsler and Brian Gaudio to document housing and infrastructure projects in 5 cities in South America: Bogota, Lima, Santiago, Rio de Janeiro, and Sao Paulo.

By 2050, an estimated 70% of the global population will live in cities - many will come for jobs and the promise of a higher standard of living. It is estimated that 1.41 billion more people will move to cities in the next 40 years. Many cities are not prepared to house this influx of people, not to mention accommodate their needs for work, family, and recreation. This leads to the formation of informal communities within the larger, formal cities themselves. By 2030, one out of every four people in the world will live in slums/informal communities. There is much to learn from the way these informal communities address housing and infrastructure. In the 21st century it will be informal communities like those in South America that are on the edge of architectural innovation.

Abe Drechsler and Brian Gaudio were awarded the 2014 Duda Travel Fellowship upon graduating from North Carolina State University. They traveled to and studied five cities in South America to document housing and infrastructure projects in informal communities. While abroad, they examined everything from self-built houses in the favelas of Rio, to government-funded housing projects designed by world-famous architects in Lima. In each location they photographed, drew, and analyzed buildings and streetscapes. Additionally, they met with local designers, professors, and community organizers to discuss critical issues related to housing and infrastructure.

This exhibit was a presentation of the photos, sketches and ideas that were gathered during their travels