Central and South America

Central and South America

With 75% of the Capital To Be Rebuilt, Haiti Officials Consider Moving

Haiti's official seismologist predicted the earthquake, and says the capital is in a high-risk zone for future quakes. With funds coming in to rebuild, the decision is pressing.

February 3, 2010 - Spiegel International

The World's Largest Haitian Diaspora Looks On

Architect and urban designer Hector Fernando Burga looks at Haiti through the lens of a Haitian enclave in Miami and wonders what role designers can play in the devastated country's revival.

February 2, 2010 - Places

Will The Economy Leave Port-au-Prince With Its People?

More than a million Haitians have fled the capital city of Port-au-Prince, and government officials are advising them to stay out of the city. But many question if these provincial cities will be able to provide jobs and economic opportunities.

January 30, 2010 - The Christian Science Monitor

Improving Safety Through Architecture and Public Works in Colombia

This piece from Utne Reader looks at the role of architecture in the public works projects of Medellin, Colombia, a city that has struggled with severe crime.

January 30, 2010 - Utne Reader

Recovery Through the Open Source Design Movement

With the devastation in Haiti fresh in mind, Good's Alissa Walker takes a look at the growing practice of sharing design ideas.

January 28, 2010 - Good

Group of Builders and Designers Brainstorm Haiti's Future

Every day since the earthquake that shattered Haiti earlier this month, a group of 50 planners, architects and developers have met to brainstorm and strategize the rebuilding of their country.

January 27, 2010 - Los Angeles Times

A New Future for Haiti?

Raymond Joseph, Haitian ambassador to the U.S., sees the opportunity to build a smaller, better city from the ruins.

January 25, 2010 - The Seattle Times

A Return to the Countryside in Battered Haiti

Haitians are moving back out into the countryside after the Capital city of Port-au-Prince suffered devastation from a series of earthquakes this month. Some argue the move back to the country may be a good thing for Haiti.

January 22, 2010 - The New York Times

The Role of Design and Architecture in Saving Haiti

This episode of DnA wonders whether design and architecture will be able to help Haiti revive itself.

January 20, 2010 - KCRW

How Should Port-au-Prince be Rebuilt?

With Haiti's capital city in ruins, and emergency response still underway, rebuilding efforts are a ways off. But the rebuilding following recent disasters may provide guidance, writes Mark MacKinnon.

January 18, 2010 - Globe and Mail

Brazilians Reinterpret Their Living Spaces

In this paper, Gustavo Rivera Jr. (Ph. D. candidate in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Chicago) evaluates the economic and sociocultural impact of recently developed public housing estates within the favelas of Belo Horizonte.

January 18, 2010 - The Urban Reinventors Online Urban Journal

Poor Building Practices, Infrastructure Worsened Haiti Devastation

CNN reports that a lack of building codes and the construction of vulnerable informal settlements may have contributed to the high death toll in Haiti's earthquake.

January 14, 2010 - CNN

Brazilian BRT Spreads Through Latin America

This article looks at the influence of the bus rapid transit system of Curitiba, Brazil, and how it is becoming a major aspect of urban design in other Latin American cities.

December 22, 2009 - Brazzil Magazine

Brazil's New Dam Opens Shipping Doors But Hurts Green Image

A new $7.7 billion dam is being built in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil, a piece of infrastructure expected to ease the shipment of goods between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. But its environmental impact may hurt Brazil's green credibility.

December 16, 2009 - The Washington Post

Latin Americans in the Dark About Energy

Some say Latin America is in a serious energy crisis, underlined by frequent blackouts across South and Central America.

December 3, 2009 - BBC News

Function Over Geometry

This aerial view of part of Brasilia, Brazil's capital city, shows the paths of where people have crossed highways and literally made the road by walking.

November 25, 2009 - Discovering Urbanism

Highways Devastating the Amazon

The greatest threat to Brazil's Amazon Rain Forest is not just farming or logging, but the road construction that makes both possible, writes Stephanie Brault.

November 13, 2009 - Council on Hemispheric Affairs

Brazilian Billboard Ban Under Pressure

The ban on billboard advertising in Sao Paulo, Brazil, is showing pressure cracks, as continued opposition to the citywide policy has some lawmakers considering a repeal.

November 10, 2009 - The Independent

Smaller May Be Better in Developer Biz

While a number of mega retail developers crashed and burned during the recession, some smaller developers have thrived.

November 6, 2009 - Retail Traffic Magazine

Not a Drop to Drink

Lima's poorest residents are using nets to capture the moisture from the fog that shrouds the city. They don't have access to running water and often pay a high price to get it.

October 21, 2009 - BBC News

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