Resilient Bento Rodrigues

Abstract: The aim of the project is the reconstruction of the district Bento Rodrigues located in the state of Minas Gerais; Brazil destroyed by the collapse of a mining dam Fundão in November 2015. This disaster was one of the biggest tragedy in the country. Mud covered the village, a river flooded and all the waste arrived until the Atlantic Ocean, including one of the most important rivers, the Rio Doce. This disaster killed around 20 people. It damaged fauna and flora besides it made the water undrinkable for the area and for all the cities the river passes close. The new site of the reconstruction is 8 km far away from the urban center, Mariana. This site was chosen by the locals together with the company responsible for the disaster. It is not possible to rebuild the village in the old place because it is dangerous, another dam in the area can collapse.The proposal seeks to rebuild the village based on three points: nature, sustainability, identity. The reconstruction will be having a balance with nature and the new town, that provides a low density and more integration with the landscape. Another aspect of the economy should create a small brick industry using the mud of the disaster to rebuild the city, with a partnership of the Federal University of Minas Gerais. The sustainability is to reuse the rainwater for agriculture to improve the local economy and provide more jobs for the locals. The concept of identity will be found in the typologies of housing, where people can build a part of their houses and have more connection to the place.