Santa Marta Urban Grammar - Towards an understanding of the genesis of form

Abstract

The research presented here aims to understand how spontaneous occupation in informal settlements evolves, how to develop guidelines for the requalification of these settlements, and how to plan new settlements in similar conditions. This paper focuses on the use of a parametric urban grammar as a methodology to describe the complex urban form of informal settlements, explaining how buildings and pathways create the maze-like urban structure, how different building typologies are located according to internal and external forces like topography, and urban context and functional organization of these buildings.

A shape grammar for the spontaneous occupation settled in fishing villages: The case of Garopaba, Brazil

“…Moreover, this grammar describes the self-built occupation in Garopaba fishing village based on a few simple assumptions similar to the ones regarding favela Santa Marta urban grammar, 13,36 favela Parque Royal 30 and the work of Gong, 18 in generating urban fabric. These assumptions are (1) alleys and streets are progressively provided alongside the buildings; (2) the place for the houses is self-selected and the neighborhood is self-built; (3) an existing line (representing a barrier) guides the process of occupation; and (4) alleys are spontaneously formed when the initial entrances to access the houses become difficult.…”