The Center for Research and Extension in Urbanism, Project and Social Practices (URB&PRAXIS) has the general objective of analyzing public policies, urban projects and urban and social practices in areas of social interest and Brazilian favelas, observing the levels of community participation and measuring the dimensions of inclusion, social justice, empowerment and autonomy.
It aims to bring together research that investigates urban and social practices and solidarity networks in Brazilian precarious settlements and in peripheral and excluded spaces in the contemporary city, through case studies, extension activities and comparative analyses. The research and extension core encompasses different research and extension projects, which may include issues of gender, ethnicities, structural racism, urban violence, risk and social vulnerability, housing, infrastructure and public policies, but with common objectives, that deal with social inclusion, urban praxis, community participation and the reduction of urban, social and environmental precariousness.
The research group is structured around two main analytical axes: the dimension of urban planning praxis and the dimension of community participation. Praxis in the sense of social practices and concrete action, and as part of knowledge focused on social relations and political reflections. Another objective is the compilation of experiences and creative initiatives from the point of view of architecture and urbanism in informal communities, aiming to discuss projects and actions from a critical perspective, in order to demonstrate that solutions arise from the place itself, configuring thus urbanism turned inside out.
The research projects that make up the Research and Extension Center: Urbanism, Project and Social Practices aim to contribute to the evaluation of public policies, urban projects and their relationships with praxis and community participation. They also aim to advise public agents in the development of public policies that use the potential for social action and solidarity networks present in these communities, thus promoting inclusive, locally based urbanism, with greater participation and power for transformation and autonomy. It is based on the premise that the understanding and dissemination of good urban and social practices that arise from the residents’ own praxis and experience can serve not only as a record, but also as an example to be adapted for other communities.
