Main description:

This book discusses the potential of a systemic and multidisciplinary design approach to improve urban quality, health, livability, and inclusiveness for people living in informal settlements. In most instances, attempts to address informal settlements lack an adequate assessment of their impact on the wider built environment and implementation of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. The Integrated Modification Methodology (IMM), introduced here, offers a systematic, multidisciplinary design tool encompassing several of the aspects that define the environmental performance of urban systems. The book also demonstrates the application of the methodology to an informal settlement, proving its potential to guide systemicurban transformations, also in urban areas lacking formal planning. The case study investigated is in the Rocinha favela in Rio de Janeiro, which ischaracterized by poor water quality, lack of drainage and sanitation systems, and very few green spaces. Based on a rigorous methodology, the process described here can also be applied in similar contexts around the world.

Contents:

1. The Rocinha favela and past slum upgrading programmes in Rio de Janeiro / Brazil; shortcomings of past experiences and limitations of fragmented transformation actions.- 2. The Integrated Modification Methodology (how it works + past examples of its application to formal contexts + comparison with other methodologies/tools used for similar purposes).- 3. Analysis of the existing situation (IMM Diagnostic phase).- 4. Urban metabolism and identification of intervention areas (IMM Assumption phase).- 5. Projects: energy.- 6. Projects: ecosystem.- services.- 7. Projects: waste.- 8. Projects: wastewater treatment.- 9. Projects: food.- 10. Projects: mobility.- 11. Analysis of system-wide improvements (IMM Retrofit phase).- 12. Conclusions.