Banca de DEFESA: JOSE HENRIQUE COSTA TENORIO

DEAR, URBAN ARCHITECT! Views on the Brazilian urban architect and his social role

architect and urban planner; social function; technical assistance; Brazil.

This dissertation is born out of the discomfort generated by the mismatch
between the architectural and urban planning services provided by technical
managers and a large portion of the Brazilian population. The study covers the
intrinsic and social characteristics of the architect-urbanist subject that interfere
with, or even justify, the low impact of their professional performance on the
development of society, especially the lower income strata. Different perspectives
on this professional are addressed, through demographic data, current laws and
current market contexts, in order to build a general profile of the professional,
which involves a self centered view on oneself and on society in general. The
symbolic, invisible relations, as described by Bourdieu, are also analyzed, going
through the different possibilities for inserting this professional into the job market
and their professional performance. The social impact generated by their action
is presented as possible through social architecture, with emphasis on Technical
Assistance in Social Interest Housing (ATHIS), and urbanism itself, inseparable from
popular participation, outlining the insurgent character of the profession today and
characterizing its social function.