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Themes

Themes of the ALFA-AURORA workshop

Workshop 2 to 12. Nov 2005 on Sustainable Urban Development at Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)

Outline of thematic focus for training by research objectives with São José do Val do Rio Preto

The conference themes related to the urban development and planning of São José have been concentrated on four major objectives as follows:

1st and general theme: All project participants shall investigate possibilities of civil participation in the realization of communal construction projects in Europe and Latin America. The following keywords apply:

  • self-help models, master plan, land use planning, structural planning, quarter management, co-operative models, strategies of realization etc.

It is expected that each country represented will submit specific models of participation and description of experiences.

2nd project theme for Sao José do Vale do Rio Preto: development of low cost living concepts for 20 – 30 housing units in low density areas, considering the character of the existing residential area. A low cost infrastructure is to be developed also.

3rd project theme for Sao José do Vale do Rio Preto: development of a traffic concept for the old town center of Sao José do Vale do Rio Preto. This concept should consider:

  • a pedestrian mall with a footbridge over the river, which is crossing the town.
  • the conservation of the historic buildings.


4th project theme for Sao José do Vale do Rio Preto: development of a sustainable traffic concept of the whole city with the special consideration of:

  • public transportation
  • tourism
  • waste disposal

As a result of the on-site and conference evaluation and discussion with regard to feasibility, vital needs and challenges, priorities of the municipality, concentration and merging of resources, AURORA project integration and transnational collaboration etc.) these four guidelines have been condensed into three priority action lines:

1st Urban planning (including concepts for the urban center, civil participation, planning concepts and instruments, environmental sustainability)

2nd Social (low cost) housing (architectural and urban design)

3rd Infrastructure and regional development (traffic/ transportation, water supply and sewage systems, tourist concepts etc)

These activity lines require an integrated training by research approach pooling expertise from Architects, Civil Engineers and Urban Planners.