Devolvendo a cidade para as pessoas: Diretrizes de desenho urbano para a requalificação de um bairro histórico portuário

Urban design is a relatively new discipline in Brazil, both in academic and professional contexts, and it often remains confined to theoretical debate rather than being translated into design practice. There are still many architects and urban planners who confuse the concept of urban design with landscape architecture. Although these are distinct disciplines, they are complementary. As a result, many cities face serious problems related to the preservation of green areas, a lack of urban tree cover, insufficient planning for stormwater drainage, and street designs that prioritise cars over pedestrians and cyclists, thereby discouraging sustainable mobility.

Before engaging with the discussion proposed here, it is necessary to revisit the definition of urban design. This discipline refers to the process of urban planning at the scale of a neighbourhood and/or an entire city, involving multiple stages of analysis. These range from the study of existing natural resources—such as waterways, green areas, and topography—and their potential, to the analysis of street connectivity in terms of spatial integration and segregation (1). It also includes studies of the aesthetic and compositional identity of an area, taking into account its historical characteristics, symbolic meanings, and formal qualities.

The application of these analytical stages within the design process results in urban environments whose form prioritises walking in public space, supports sustainable mobility, and consequently attracts large numbers of people to occupy open spaces such as squares, parks, and urban nodes.