Search results

The Gorongosa National Park was created in 1960 and it has 4.067km2 that integrates the Serra da Gorongosa and the local communities that live nearby. This work aims the characterization of the traditional houses and ways of building observed in the natural park. The main objective is the identification and characterization of constructive systems and the organization of villages in the Gorongosa National Park. This characterization is intended to be constructive from the point of view of the materials, geometry and solutions applied on the construction. The present work has many phases, in this sense the following stages were defined: Developing the state of art based on the analysis of constructive characterization methods and bibliographic research on earth systems used in Mozambique and other countries with similar conditions and climates; Definition of the studying cases: identification of the villages that were objects of studies, definition of survey criteria and registration; Visiting the villages and surveying the solutions through photographic register, visual observation, measurements, interviews; Registering identification files to each solution, etc. The work presents the typologies of construction found, namely: constructions with walls made from earth commonly used in the country, being the most usual technology the earth covering over wooden structures with different geometries and pieces of different shapes and dimensions. The study has documented some of the most current solutions in National Park.

Each country has its spatial planning system, which comprises several instruments and objectives focused on city issues and territorial development. On June 25, 1975, the independence of Mozambique was proclaimed, following the end of the colonial war with the military coup of April 25 in Portugal and the Lusaka agreements on September 7, 1974. Consequently, a new framework establishes the bases of public policies for this country, whose main objective is to fulfill territorial quality concerning the collective culture that integrates the local cultural values. Mozambique was an administrative part of Portugal until 1975. There is still a substantial identity between the two countries, sharing the same language and politics, cultural aspects, and administrative organization. In this sense, the present study aims to present a comparative analysis between Mozambique and Portugal's spatial planning systems, seeking to find common characteristics. In conclusion, this research shows similarities based on spatial land use in Mozambique and Portugal. However, there is a clear contrast between land ownership and access. The level of implementation at a diverse level is notorious. We highlight the example of Beira which has a comprehensive plan based on sustainable development and climate-change-resilient mitigation proposals.

Abstract: Emerging economies are in an almost winless situation: they would benefit from improving the extremely poor economic situation, making them self-reliant and economically productive. However, the poor fight for daily survival and, therefore, cannot afford to improve themselves. This article describes the state of the “Grande Hotel” in the city of Beira, Mozambique, built-in Portuguese colonial times, a real vertical shanty building that is occupied by approximately 1000 inhabitants trapped in poverty. To carry out any constructive intervention in a building or an urban complex, it is necessary to carry out a rehabilitation project that is developed based on a diagnosis of the building understudy, its main deteriorations, the causes, mechanisms of action, evolution, and possible treatments to be used for its repair. Analysis methods are necessary for the conservation of buildings since trying to stop, or correct buildings’ deterioration without a diagnosis of their problems or a prognosis on their evolution is a risky procedure with a high percentage of failure chances. The use of an appropriate methodology for diagnosing the damage present in the “Grande Hotel” and its prediction of evolution and development should directly impact a better quality of rehabilitation projects in the neighborhood where the building is located.

Abstract: Having in mind the objectives of the United Nations Development Agenda 2030, which refers to the sustainable principles of a circular economy, it is urgent to improve the performance of the built environment. The existing buildings must be preserved and improved in order to reduce their environmental impact, in line with the need to revert climate change and reduce the occurrence of natural disasters. This work had as its main goal to identify and define a methodology for promoting the rehabilitation of buildings in the Ponte Gêa neighborhood, in the city of Beira, Mozambique, with an emphasis on energy efficiency, water efficiency, and construction and demolition waste management. The proposed methodology aims to create a decision support method for creating strategic measures to be implemented by considering the three specific domains—energy, water, and waste. This model allows for analyzing the expected improvement according to the action to be performed, exploring both individual and community solutions. It encompasses systems of standard supply that can reveal greater efficiency and profitability. Thus, the in-depth knowledge of the characteristics of urban space and buildings allows for establishing guidelines for the renovation process of the neighborhood.

The purpose of this article is to review the literature related to urbanism and climate change. First, an overview of climate change policies is presented. A review of articles published in recent years that examine the various research subareas related to urbanism climate change and the present pandemic situation is performed. The concepts of green and biophilic urbanism have been growing and getting strength, as a holistic concept for tomorrows sustainable urban areas based on the consistent and safe use of energy, soil, water, green spaces, materials, and mobility. These new trends are based on social needs, with integrated strategies and policies that combine adaptation and mitigation to face urban growth’s negative impact. The review focused on articles published in the last 20 years with the keywords “urbanism” and “climate change”. This literature review became evident that there is a gap in urban studies about interdisciplinary research.