What is it about?
This paper discusses the planned creation of the Campus Quilombo Minas Novas, a pioneering initiative in Brazil that aims to offer technical education to quilombo communities, respecting their ways of life and promoting self-management. It details the technical advisory methods used, based on broadening the community imagination through what we term interfaces, and the challenges faced in reconciling the principles of self-determination with the bureaucratic requirements for access to public funds. The construction of the campus is presented as a self-managed construction laboratory, integrating traditional practices with technical training. Finally, the text describes the architectural design of the campus, favouring adaptation to the local context and the possibility of future expansion determined by the communities themselves.
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Why is it important?
It draws from the case of implementing the Campus Quilombo architectural project (designed to be an open process) to discuss the obstacles imposed by a product-based bureaucratic requirements.
Perspectives
This article registers the initial stage of implementation of the Campus Quilombo, showing not only its potential, but also discussing the problems faced and how they were dealt with.
Ana Paula Baltazar
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Paths to the Campus Quilombo as a self-managed construction lab, Environment and Urbanization, August 2025, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/09562478251359920.
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