As ruas como espaços públicos da periferia: Imagem avaliativa e desempenho ambiental.

Abstract

The present work focuses on the performance of the streets as open public spaces in the slums, based on the evaluation of users and their environmental behavior. The streets are considered relevant public spaces in these areas, as they are seen as residual spaces resulting from the spontaneous occupation process so often found in such locations. We take the theoretical assumption that the usage is the most relevant indicating factor of successful open public spaces. Besides the usage of the spaces, the users’ satisfaction is considered a key factor to evaluate the performance of built spaces. We aim at identifying the existing relationship between the evaluative image of the streets, in terms of visual pleasantness and safety perception and the performance as public spaces, through the analysis of a case study in the city of Pelotas, RS. The central purpose is the elaboration of theoretical aids that provide support the decisions in terms of streets projects and maintenance, in order to respond to the users’ needs and expectations and contribute for its positive performance. The work involves the study area of environment-behavior relationships (EBR) and uses specific methodology from the area: the post-occupation evaluation (POE) methods and techniques. Participative urban rapid diagnosis (PURD), questionnaires and behavioral observations are used as methods to gather data concerning physical surveys. The answers are analysed and grouped among the different groups of users, so that it is possible to identify similarities and/or differences in the perception, evaluation and environmental behavior of each group. The results found indicate the contextual aspects which favor the street performance, stimulating the behavioral environment considered as the adequate one by the dwellers as well as their satisfaction concerning the streets where they live in. It is expected that the results presented here may suggest future researches to approach this problem and that public policies on the qualification of the slums urban environment are guided.