This article presents the project process adopted for the design of indigenous student housing at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil, and discusses its impact both on the formative process of architecture and urbanism students, regarding the experiences of indigenous students at the University. Aside from the relevance of that architecture as support for the permanence of students in public higher education, its importance as a symbol of shelter and respect for indigenous peoples at the university stands out. For this purpose, a participatory project was built that began with dialogues stages with indigenous students at the university and interactions with one of the ethnicities involved in its traditional territory (its village), for the definition of project guidelines and the needs’ program. Subsequently, for the proposal’s presentation and discussion, experiences were gathered in the proposed area for the project’s implementation and the physical models and drawings were presented, which were used to facilitate dialogue and participation of Indigenous students in the project process. The article presents the path followed, the spatial results of this process, the perceptions of the future users of the space, and reflections on the importance of outreach actions in the training of professionals in the area of architecture and urbanism, valuing the social role of the profession, and building a more sensitive projective repertoire, prepared to consider the human diversity that contemporaneity constitutes.

This article presents the design process adopted for the design of Indigenous Temporary Accommodation in Florianopolis - Santa Catarina - Brazil, focusing on design strategies and changes in the proposal, considering State actions and the participation of the indigenous community. These proposals were developed through an outreach project at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, addressing the importance of indigenous presence in the city, the constant struggle of indigenous people for physical and symbolic spaces in contemporary society, and the social role of architects and urban planners within these challenges. A participatory project process is adopted as a methodological strategy, which comprises theoretical and documentary research stages, joint actions with the indigenous community, interactions with the State, preparation of guidelines, and architectural proposals. As a result, the architectural proposals developed based on community demands are presented, as well as the changes from the different strategies built using State actions to handle the issue. It is believed that when considering the different actors involved in the design process, possibilities broaden both to enable the execution of key public facilities in the city and to make these meet the wants and needs of the communities involved.