Resilient housing alternatives in rural-urban transition areas in Camaçari-BA

Abstract

The initial exploration of the peri-urban areas of Camaçari, Bahia, Brazil, brought attention to the needs of the Rede Rural Agroecológica de Camaçari (RRAC) in the face of increasing real estate pressure, intensified by the municipality’s recent Sustainable Urban Development Master Plan. Through historical research, legislative analysis, collaborative mapping, and field visits, different ways of life within traditional communities, family farms, and ecological condominiums were observed. The latter activities were supported by an extension course offered as part of the undergraduate and graduate programs in Architecture and Urbanism at the Universidade Federal da Bahia. Teaching, research, and extension initiatives contributed to the foundation of the socio-ecological approach, framing the results and discussion. A summary table was created to analyze the categories of inhabiting, producing, and preserving, considering an expanded concept of inhabiting that includes access to adequate rural infrastructure and territorial resilience within the context of critical agroecology. In conclusion, agricultural territories in rural-urban transition zones must be protected from real estate speculation to foster territorial resilience and ensure food security for both rural and urban populations.