Teaching environmental design in risk areas

This paper intends to present some results of the international workshop "Living in risk areas" held in november 2015, in the framework of the cooperation agreement between the University of Santa Catarina (Brazil) and The University of Florence (Italy). Professors, researchers and architecture students of both universities have worked on habitability in the risk area of a slum situated in the central area of Florianopolis City, southern Brazil. The aim of the workshop was to create a new generation of architects, conscious of the environmental aspects and the informal city conditions more and more affecting the urban settlements. The methodological approach was focused on the research of the local infrastructures and the social relationship between the informal community 'Serrinha' and the 'formal city'. The work group analysed the environmental conditions of the urban context, the characteristics of settlement, the building typology and the constructions technologies used by its inhabitants. Also sociological aspects were observed such as the disadvantages of economic relationship within the urban area, the precarious dwellings and poor living conditions. Finally, the interactive works put together students of different countries in order to produce an alternative view of natural, anthropic and social areas of risk.