To present and discuss themes related to Open Spaces and Environmental studies, to spread the Brazilian and International scientific and professional production.
Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo
A revista Paisagem e Ambiente: ensaios tem licença Creative Commons Creative Commons - Atribuição-NãoComercial-CompartilhaIgual 4.0 Internacional DIADORIM - Diretório de Políticas Editoriais O detentor dos direitos autorais é o autor do artigo. A revista exige apenas o ineditismo na publicação do artigo. O autor tem do direito de divulgar seu artigo conforme sua conveniência.
Urban forest plans as a strategy for climate crisis mitigation and adaptation
In the face of the climate crisis, urban forest planning can protect and expand urban green spaces, create and enhance public spaces, and generate urban, environmental, psychosocial, and economic benefits. Planning enables the development of strategies, programs, and projects in a systematic and interconnected way. Therefore, Urban Forest Plans can serve as a tool for compiling information on urban forest planning, establishing objectives and goals, and covering management rules, tree inventories, mapping, monitoring indicators, enforcement mechanisms, theoretical discussions on the importance of urban forestry, and other relevant topics. The objective of this article is to highlight the importance of urban forests and their planning for climate mitigation and adaptation. For this purpose, documentary research on grey literature was conducted, supporting the significance of urban forests and Urban Forest Plans. In the face of the irreversible climate crisis, planning for urban forests can help build a more sustainable future for urban environments.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mario Henrique Felgueira Pavanelli, Alessandro Filla Rosaneli https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Nature as infrastructure: an interdisciplinary experience in landscape practice through geodesign
The Anthropocene era has ushered in a phase of action in combating climate change. Landscape architects play a crucial role in designing landscapes that are better adapted to their context, using the landscape as a means for innovative solutions. This research reports on an interdisciplinary academic experience in developing a decentralized and autonomous wastewater treatment system for two prototypes located in the municipality of Caucaia, Ceará. Geodesign was used to define the interactions necessary to facilitate the co-creation process of the team in designing an Evapotranspiration Basin (EB). Information such as local customs and culture guided decision-making from the beginning of the project in choosing which system to implement. Although geodesign optimizes interactions among the teams involved in the co-creation process, there was a need for more direct exchange between the local community and the team, which enriches the pilot and enables community ownership of the proposal through replicability at the residential scale. The research is ongoing, with the second phase involving the development of a risk monitoring plan for the intervention area.
Copyright (c) 2025 Maria Gabriela Cunha Appleyard, Ana Luiza Bezerra Guerreiro, Victor Brito Dos Santos, José Carlos Alves Barroso Júnior, José Lucas Gomes Mendes, Moana Sobreira Machado, Guilherme Lopes de Oliveira, João Pedro Deodato Barreto, Shaiane Gomes Viana, Joana Pimentel Guedes, Alexandre Araújo Bertini, Newton Célio Becker de Moura https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Connecting places and people: green-blue infrastructure proposal for an urban section of the railway line in Campina Grande, PB
This article presents the methodology and results of a project developed by students of the Landscape Planning II course in the undergraduate Architecture and Urbanism program at the Federal University of Campina Grande. The project aimed to develop a landscape plan for Green-Blue Infrastructure at the urban macro scale, integrated with the existing gray infrastructure in Campina Grande (PB). The main objective was to design an intervention within the walkable surroundings of a section of the railway line that crosses the city’s macro-urban zone. The activities included field visits, the construction of a theoretical-methodological framework, the production of cartograms, and the elaboration of a diagnosis and preliminary design. The process highlighted the importance of Green-Blue Infrastructure in creating more sustainable and inclusive cities, promoting quality of life and community well-being.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rafael Caldas de Araújo Cunha, Alison Matheus de Melo Silva, Mauro Normando Macêdo Barros Filho https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Inventory and diagnosis of trees in green areas and urban roads of the municipality of cachoeira do Arari, Pará
This study aims to conduct a comprehensive inventory and qualitative diagnosis of the urban arborization in Cachoeira do Arari, Pará, to identify the floristic species that constitute the urban vegetation and assess their health status and management practices. The findings seek to inform and support the development of public policies incorporating urban forestry as a fundamental component of the city’s sustainable development strategies. The floristic survey was carried out through a complete census of all woody species. Qualitative parameters were evaluated by examining the phytosanitary conditions of the trees and analyzing their spatial arrangement in relation to the existing urban infrastructure. The study underscores the critical importance of strategic planning to ensure a balance between the preservation of urban trees and the safety and well-being of the community.
Copyright (c) 2025 Breno Vinícius Bragança Avelar, Alecsandra Ribeiro Araújo, Nariar Siqueira Conceição, Whellyson Pereira Araújo Cordão, Flaubert Queiroga de Sousa https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Nature as urban drainage infrastructure: a narrative review on blue infrastructure for flood resilience
This article presents a narrative review of the literature on the use of Blue Infrastructures as Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) for urban flood resilience. NBS provide social and ecosystem services, strengthening urban resilience to climate change. This article explores the role of nature as infrastructure for urban drainage, analyzing the challenges and potential of NBS. Additionally, by examining the effectiveness of NBS as drainage tools, the study proposes reflections for enhancing their application. To achieve this objective, the article presents a narrative review covering urban resilience, followed by NBS and Blue Infrastructure (BI). The conclusion examines the role of Blue Infrastructure within the NBS concept, highlighting its potential and limitations. It is hoped that this work enriches the academic literature on the subject, expands the implementation potential of these solutions, and fosters discussion on nature as infrastructure.
Copyright (c) 2025 Tainah Frota Carvalho, Newton Célio Becker de Moura https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Landscape in transition: valley bottoms in Bauru - SP
The landscape of valley bottoms in Brazilian culture is characterized by conflicts, challenges, and latent potential. This research aims to examine the contemporary transformation processes affecting these open spaces in Bauru, São Paulo, by investigating possible alternatives to mitigate socio-cultural, environmental, and urban issues. The study supports a transition from so-called lost landscapes to productive landscapes. Aligned with global debates on climate change, food security, demographic growth, and sprawling urban expansion, the research is grounded in the intersection of governance and public policy, civil society, planners and managers, and the disciplinary field of Landscape Architecture itself. To structure the investigation, an exploratory study was conducted using the case study method, drawing on multiple sources of evidence—including bibliographic and documentary materials, as well as direct observations—that enable movement between temporal and territorial scales, fostering alternative approaches to landscape interpretation, planning, and design.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ryller Veríssimo, Luciana Bongiovanni Martins Schenk https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
The use of “mais-valia” and “mais-valerá” as transformative elements of the cityscape of Rio de Janeiro
This paper aims to shed light on the effects of compensation laws, known in the city of Rio de Janeiro as “mais-valia” and “mais-valerá,” on the urban landscape. The use of these mechanisms to build beyond permitted parameters has become a cultural practice, earning the nickname “puxadinhos” (makeshift extensions). From the 2000s onward, these laws became a recurring subject of complementary legislation that authorized their application. Their peak occurred in 2024 with the new Master Plan, which introduced the largest incentive program for “puxadinhos” in the municipality. Part of this work draws on doctoral research defended in 2014 that examined the influence of urban legislation on the city’s landscape.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rogerio Goldfeld Cardeman https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Design guidelines for increasing bird diversity in urban open spaces
Urban open spaces can contribute to biodiversity conservation. While urban ornithology studies are abundant in temperate countries, there is a lack of them in the tropical regions that offer landscape design guidelines for promoting bird diversity. This study proposes guidelines applicable at three scales: local, urban, and landscape. The first focuses on small interventions at the parcel scale and the adoption of native vegetation; the second provides strategies to promote a mosaic of open spaces; and the third addresses the connection of urban space with the surrounding landscape. In total, 21 guidelines were produced and applied in an urban area of the municipality of Serra, Espirito Santo, Brazil. Additionally, four new guidelines were derived from contextual demands. The study demonstrates the applicability of these guidelines and their potential for incorporation into public policies aimed at promoting the diversity of native bird species.
Copyright (c) 2025 Homero Marconi Penteado, Beatriz Mourão Barcelos https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Protected natural spaces in focus: procedures for understanding the structure of the coastal landscape of Natal - RN
The processes involved in urban development increasingly compromise the remaining natural areas that withstand human-induced changes. The expansion of urban fabric alters the composition of natural spaces, reducing them to isolated and scattered fragments. In Natal, where settlement began along the banks of the Potengi River, 10 territorial fractions spared from this process are officially recognized by the municipality as Environmental Protection Zones. Considering native vegetation cover as an essential element of this study, the objective is to present the mapping, distribution, and structural analysis procedures of four of these fractions, located along the coastal fringe and hosting ecosystems such as reefs, beaches, mangroves, restingas, dunes, the Atlantic Forest, and coastal plateaus. The analysis focuses on classifying vegetated fragments using GIS and photographic records, aiming to support landscape planning for these natural spaces.
Copyright (c) 2025 Emmanuelle Séfora Cabral Silva, Ruth Maria da Costa Ataíde https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Public lighting and its effects on the sense of safety: the case of Agenor Moreira Square, Vila Velha - ES
The increase in urban violence reveals a scenario of emptying public spaces, especially at night. In this article, we investigate the influence of public lighting on the sense of security, taking as a case study the square Agenor Moreira, in Vila Velha, Brazil. Behavioral and physical-environmental maps and interviews were constructed to support the spatial analysis. The analytical-classification tool "QualificaURB" was also applied, which revealed an improvement in the indicators of public lighting and surveillance of the square after its renovation. The discussions highlight the influence of lighting on urban appropriation and the sense of security, as well as assist in urban planning for optimized lighting projects and solutions aiming at the safety of its users.
Copyright (c) 2025 Amanda Jeveaux Passamani, Larissa Leticia Andara Ramos, Luciana Aparecida Netto de Jesus https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
The influence of public square arborization on the microclimate
Amid growing concerns about climate change and quality of life in cities, this study explores the influence of public spaces on the urban microclimate, highlighting the regulatory function of vegetation. The objective is to quantify green areas in public squares in Regional 9 of Vitória and relate them to demographic factors, per capita income, and temperature. The research combines qualitative and quantitative approaches, using Google Earth images and AutoCAD measurements to calculate shaded areas. Temperature and humidity data were collected on-site, and the maps were created using QGis, with calculations performed in Excel. Results indicate that neighborhoods with higher income levels have more squares and that vegetation significantly influences the microclimate, with temperature variations of up to 2°C between squares and 5.6°C between shaded and unshaded areas within the same square.
Copyright (c) 2025 Bruna da Silva Santos Brandão, Luciana Aparecida Netto de Jesus, Larissa Leticia Andara Ramos, Iasmin Tamanini Secco https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Landscape analysis in the immediate geographic region of Cachoeira do Sul (RS): dynamics and influences of water resources and the impacts of the climate disaster in May 2024
The Immediate Geographic Region of Cachoeira do Sul (REGICS), composed of the municipalities of Cachoeira do Sul, Novos Cabrais, Paraíso do Sul, and Cerro Branco, is located at the transition between the Atlantic Forest and Pampa biomes, a crucial factor for the regional landscape. This study aims to analyze the dynamics and patterns of water resources in the floodplain of REGICS via an ecological approach. The adopted methodology consists of four stages: analysis of land use and land cover maps; comparison with satellite images focusing on the 2024 floods; horizontal and vertical studies with profiles; and the compilation of results accompanied by corresponding photographs. The results indicate that the regional landscape is undergoing transformation, impacting water resources. This transformation is strongly linked to climate change, as evidenced by the 2024 floods.
Copyright (c) 2025 Maiara Baldissarelli, Amanda Eloísa Kasburger, Maicon Pinto de Moraes, Ariane Brum Rodrigues, Raquel Weiss, Martiele Wilhelm, Gabriela Martins Flores, Ariel Felipe Geraldo Zaghetti https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
For a popular landscape architecture: reflections for research, praxis and the teaching of landscape architecture
The current phase of global warming, caused by hegemonic production patterns, exacerbates inequalities. The issues addressed in this article involve the relevance of landscapes, landscape-thinking (Berque 2023), opaque spaces (Santos, 1996, 2000), and popular landscapes for the formulation of a new perspective for landscape architecture that we conceptualize as “critical and popular landscape architecture.” The work is the result of decades of professional, research, and teaching-extension experience of the authors in popular territories, where various methodological procedures have been employed, always having field immersion in common. The collective results of the work in popular landscapes demonstrate the relevance of dialogical procedures for the procedural construction of new knowledge, contributing to the qualification of landscapes, citizenship, and the renewal of the teaching of architecture and urban landscape by valuing extension practices.
critical and popular landscape architecture
Copyright (c) 2025 Eugenio Fernandes Queiroga, Ana Cecília Mattei de Arruda Campos, Daniela das Neves Alvarenga, Isabela Sollero Lemos https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
The hypotesis of Belvedere Linear Park: social agents and the dispute for free spaces in the city
This work seeks to contextualize and discuss the process of mobilization for the creation of the Belvedere Linear Park, located between the municipalities of Belo Horizonte and Nova Lima, Minas Gerais. The area — in dispute by organized social groups, State, and estate Market — holds socio-environmental importance for the metropolis, bordering the dense urban fabric and advancing over the region of mountains and conservation units. Via field and documentary research, we seek to record the dynamics of the agents involved, contributing to investigations into contemporary landscaping challenges regarding consolidation and use of free spaces. We highlight that the proposal for a new leisure and preservation space has occurred in the practices and discourses of organized residents, even before its institutionalization, revealing the potential of the initiatives of social groups and their actions in shaping the landscape.
Copyright (c) 2025 Marcos Felipe Sudre Saidler, Eduardo Archetti Martins Arruda https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Complex cartography in the critical reading of physical and historical processes of the landscape of São Carlos (SP)
São Carlos (SP) currently has a characteristic of uneven urban sprawl towards its outskirts. This process is associated with the emptying of the city’s downtown, which highlights social and environmental issues both in terms of the increase in unrented commercial properties and flooding aggravated by climate change. To address the lack of systemic planning, the hypothesis of this paper is that more comprehensive and transdisciplinary research methods would be capable of producing interpretations of greater complexity, intertwining in a cartography denominated complex, which deals with physical, sociocultural, and historical processes of the landscape. Complex cartography is associated with a phenomenological vision and we intend to reflect on the process that unites and separates the downtown and peripheries, while at the same time looking for ways to represent, based on evidence, information that aids in this investigation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Luciana Bongiovanni Martins Schenk , Renata Michelon Cocco, Patrícia Cereda de Azevedo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Analysis and Classification of Urban Green Areas in Palmas (TO) for Sustainable Management
The article examines the modern reality of Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil, and discusses the importance of maintaining urban green areas to mitigate the negative consequences of urbanization. The municipality manages its green spaces via the Municipal Green Infrastructure System (SisMIV), created in 2018. The study categorized urban lots designated as Green Areas (AVs) according to SisMIV guidelines, using Geographic Information System (GIS) tools to organize, identify, quantify, and analyze these lots. The study highlighted the importance of accurate data for environmental management, emphasizing that geoprocessing via GIS is a valuable tool for informed decision-making. Additionally, this article underscores the need for data-driven urban space management to address climate and environmental challenges.
Copyright (c) 2025 Gabriela Miranda Sampaio Freires, Sarah Afonso Rodovalho https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
This paper presents partial results of an interinstitutional action research project focused on the theme of urban floodplains. If the idea of floodplain, analogous to the condition of being a floodplain dweller, usually brings with it depreciative values, viewed from the perspective of the asepsis of the “High” areas of cities, this work investigates recent initiatives of cultivation and experience of the landscape in humid terrains. These are vegetable gardens and orchards invented since 2016 by residents of Vila Santa Filomena next to the Água da Grama stream, in Bauru (SP). The text focuses on the roles of field research based on aesthetic experience (BÖHME, 2010) and the poetic images that correspond to it (BACHELARD, 2013) in investigative processes directed at the landscape. As urban void without a destination, in an almost clandestine manner, a feeling of nature insinuates itself in an original way, shared by plants germinated at random, accustomed to ponds, and by the seeds and seedlings planted by people interested in cultivating them. The results obtained so far allow us to signal the relevance of bodily perception and the critical exploration of the imaginary as material and method for a more precise assessment of the symbolic values of the floodplains and their latent landscapes.
Copyright (c) 2025 Arthur Simões Caetano Cabral https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Essay for environmental planning of the agroecological transition of the Macaé and Ostras river basin
This study proposes a landscape prototype for mapping the potential for agroecological transition in unurbanized areas within the Macaé and Ostras River Basin, Rio de Janeiro. Its objective is to identify areas suitable for agroecological practices, considering environmental, social, and economic factors. Using data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the study maps areas appropriate for agroforestry systems and sustainable preservation by analyzing hydrography, urban infrastructure, and terrain. Through geoprocessing and parametric cartography, it identifies areas capable of sustaining a larger population, promoting food self-sufficiency, biodiversity conservation, and mitigating the impacts of conventional agricultural practices.
Copyright (c) 2025 Vinicius Ferreira Mattos, Maria Lis Paula De Moraes Dos Santos https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Urban ecology and the requalification of degraded areas: teaching as a vector for critical reflection
This paper reports on a set of didactic experiences in teaching landscape design, focusing on the environmental recovery of the Mulembá Valley, in Vitória, Brazil. The main objective of these experiences was to raise students’ awareness about the applicability of landscape design as an environmental strategy, going beyond the merely ornamental interventions. The methodology included the presentation of theoretical concepts, case studies of environmental requalification, and an exploratory visit to the field of intervention. Via photographic records and observation drawings, students identified the main elements of local landscape and also the challenges for recovering the site. The results highlight the importance of working with native species, introducing approaches that go beyond human-centered strict strategies, as well as developing site-specific solutions that are sensitive to their respective context.
Copyright (c) 2025 Iago Longue Martins https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Fictional projections, anticipated catastrophes: the power of climate fiction in addressing the environmental crisis
Climate fiction has become an increasingly relevant genre for exploring the environmental challenges facing our world today. This paper reflects on the absence of social and political engagement with the environmental crisis and the potential role of climate fiction to spark empathy and inspire action towards the issue. Furthermore, the paper examines three works of climate fiction—The Netherlands Lives with Water by Jim Shepard, Venice Drowned by Kim Stanley Robinson, and The Living Mountain by Amitav Ghosh. Through the lens of these narratives, the paper explores how fiction can transcend the limitations of traditional scientific discourse by engaging readers emotionally and imaginatively. These stories detail ways in which to provide a more relatable and impactful means of communicating the urgency of the crisis. Ultimately, it argues for the value of climate fiction as a critical tool in motivating climate action.
Copyright (c) 2024 Mariana Pereira Guimarães, Hermano Luz Rodrigues https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Sizing aspects of the experimental plant of ecological treatment by constructed wetlands on a university campus
Constructed wetlands (CW) are a decentralized and ecological technique of wastewater treatment, especially taking into account the recent change in its legislation related to full coverage up to 2033. An experimental ecological wastewater treatment based on vertical flow CW was implemented at the university campus. Due to the complexity of natural purification processes into a CW, its sizing process consists in several challenges, mainly, the sizing parameters which present great variability, such as its area, the concentration of pollutants inside, and the decay rate. According to the k-C’ model, different scenarios were performed, resulting in the required area ranges from 26 to 60 m². The required area as 31 m² was chosen for construction purposes, however the plant will have flexibility in controlling the influent flow and hydraulic retention time. This experiment will establish relationships between the population served, the required area and the efficiency of pollutant removal, aiming to meet effluent standards. The experimental plant, in addition to functioning as an open-air laboratory and a living area for the local community, will allow to obtain new designs that enable further research.
Rafael Malheiro da Silva do Amaral Ferreira
Copyright (c) 2024 Rafael Malheiro da Silva do Amaral Ferreira, Francisco Martins Teixeira, Beatriz Rohden Becker https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Detention reservoirs in the Federal District: impacts on the urban quality of the informal settlement Buritis, in Sobradinho - DF
Conventional detention reservoirs are commonly used in rainwater drainage systems in informal settlements in the Federal District. Considering that these locations also tend to lack qualified public spaces, it is relevant to analyze the effects of the reservoirs used on the urban quality. The objective of this article is to observe the impact of implementing the conventional typology of these structures, disconnected from urban and landscape design, with the observation of the Area for Regularization of Social Interest Buritis as a case study, and posteriorly, suggest that the application of green infrastructure would benefit these spaces. Theoretical references on detention devices and green infrastructures were tracked, in addition to local regulations that guide the urban drainage systems, to verify existing guidelines. Subsequently, the study area and its reservoirs were observed to verify the quality of the public space post-implementation. This article found that some regulations recommend alternative uses in basins, but do not determine landscape treatment, and that the conventional basins implemented do not promote integration and preservation of neighboring green areas.
Copyright (c) 2025 Maiara Lamas Breves, José Marcelo Martins Medeiros https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Proposal to create a conservation unit: the Voldac Quarry, a natural monument
The proposal to create a Conservation Unit in the Natural Monument category was the objective of this study, which collected information in the socioeconomic, biological and physical spheres. Preliminary studies carried out by the Ethics in Politics Movement highlight relevant and essential characteristics in the protection of local geodiversity, qualifying the area as a Natural Monument. A category of full protection conservation unit, as provided for in article 12 of Law 9,985/00. However, the popular actions and the geotechnical report produced have not yet had any effect with the Municipal Environment Secretariat. This compromises the environment and all direct and indirect environmental, social and cultural benefits that could be provided to society in the municipality of Volta Redonda, RJ.
Copyright (c) 2025 Francisco Jácome Gurgel Júnior, Fernando Antônio Silva Pinto, Sílvia Real e Silva, André Barbosa Vargas, Milena Sousa Nascimento Bento https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Panorama of the scientific production in the landscape architecture field in brazilian post-graduation in the 21st Century
How would recent scientific production in Landscape Architecture within Brazilian postgraduate studies be characterized? The answer to this question is structured by analyzing works published between 2000 and 2020 in 38 graduate programs in Architecture, Urbanism and Design, and Urban and Regional Planning/Demography. Based on a selection of descriptors, information from 152 theses and 676 dissertations was compiled to reflect on the scientific characteristics, peculiarities of the researchers involved, and the choices, gaps, and specificities of this production. Historically recognized in many territories and continents as a strategic part of design, planning, and development processes, Landscape Architecture, as a disciplinary and professional field of activity, still lacks visibility in Brazil. The text reveals the expansion of the spectrum of researchers and research that has focused on this field, whose intrinsic complexity presents itself as an alternative for addressing issues and emergencies that have a potential political dimension.
Lúcia Maria de Siqueira Cavalcanti Veras Veras
Copyright (c) 2024 Alessandro Filla Rosaneli, Lúcia Maria de Siqueira Cavalcanti Veras, Luciana Bongiovanni Martins Schenk https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Soundscape of the Botanical Garden of the municipality of São Paulo
The concept of soundscape R. Murray Schafer introduced in 1970 includes any field of acoustic study. The soundscape is directly related to the quality of life in municipalities, in which birds are essential. However, Brazil has published few studies on the subject. This study aims to characterize the soundscape of the São Paulo Botanical Garden to assess its naturalness. Monitoring was carried out for 28 days at 24 points throughout the day in the spring and summer from Monday to Sunday. Naturalness was greater during the mornings and in spring due to the contribution of many birds in the reproductive period. Natural sounds were more heterogeneous than anthropogenic ones. The central region has significant naturalness as it lies further away from urban uses and is surrounded by forest environments. In total, seven groups with acoustic similarities were formed and 88 species were identified, mainly birds. It is necessary to understand the sounds of a landscape to assess their naturalness to diagnose problems and implement measures that favor natural sounds in urban green spaces.
Copyright (c) 2024 Viviane Rodrigues dos Reis, Erico Fernando Lopes Pereira-Silva, Gionvano Candiani, Elisa Hardt https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Production of luxurious dwelling and appropriation of nature: a review of horizontal and vertical condominiums in Palmas-TO
Contact with nature has become a quest in the everyday lives of contemporary city dwellers. Within capitalism, real estate agents seek to appropriate and sell the idea of nature as something exclusive and restricted; thus, the representative elements of nature in cities—parks, waterfronts, squares—have become a real estate value increase factor. We aim to discuss the occurrence and intensification of such phenomenon in Palmas, Brazil, demonstrating how the appropriation of natural elements by the luxury real estate market takes place: the specificities of the appropriated elements, the resources used in advertisements and their impact on building value. For this purpose, the vertical and horizontal luxury condominiums were related to the nature elements of greatest interest to the market and analyzed in terms of location, year of production, advertising strategies and monetary value.
Copyright (c) 2025 Lucimara Albieri de Oliveira, Andressa Kucla da Rocha Brzezinski, José Marcelo Martins Medeiros, Kássia da Costa Vieira https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
From nature-inspired computation to swarm intelligence applied to landscaping
This study aims to introduce swarm intelligence as a strategy to plan the maintenance of green areas on university campuses, illustrating how this computational tool can contribute to landscaping and architecture. Regarding methodology, the problem was interpreted as discrete, and an analogy to the multiple traveling salesman problem was proposed. The ant colony optimization metaheuristic was applied to solve the problem, and the program AutoCAD was used as a platform to develop the problem-solving plug-in. This study expects a robust application as a result that will prove the potential of using swarm intelligence for green area maintenance planning.
Copyright (c) 2024 André Barcellos Ferreira, Dr. Jarryer Andrade de Martino https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
This article highlights Flávio de Carvalho (1899-1973) as an important precursor of modern landscaping in Brazil, although his contributions to the field of landscape design and his theoretical reflection on nature, landscape and vegetation have yet to be duly recognized. A detailed analysis of his projects is conducted, focusing on the 1920s and 1930s, when the artist began to participate in São Paulo’s cultural milieu, dialoguing with modernist intellectuals and artists. These works, analyzed in light of core aspects of modern landscaping—such as the denial of historicism, the influence of the avant-gardes, the search for the synthesis of arts, the appreciation of spatial three-dimensionality, the emphasis on leisure and active uses of open spaces, and the recognition of the botanical and symbolic qualities of vegetation—show how Carvalho’s “theoretical-plastic formulations” for the problem of open spaces provide a new aesthetic and conceptual framework for Brazilian landscaping, contributing to a broader renewal movement that would later be consolidated by Roberto Burle Marx (1909-1994).
Copyright (c) 2025 William de Assis da Silva, Ana Carolina Carmona Ribeiro https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Relationship between the use of squares and urban form in Palmas, Tocantins
This study, the result of a master’s thesis, explores the relation between urban form and the use of squares in Palmas, a municipality planned in 1989 to be the capital of the state of Tocantins. This study aims to understand the degree of interference of urban design in the use of squares by residents and visitors, identifying patterns of social interaction. This exploratory-descriptive research categorized the squares of the projected area of Palmas according to their formal and locational characteristics. Then, a comparative study was carried out between the categories, showing interrelations between these characteristics and the patterns of use by the population. Results indicate that the effectiveness of public spaces in promoting social integration and quality of life depends on location and connection with the surroundings, suggesting that urban planning should prioritize insertion, qualification, accessibility, and connectivity in the urban fabric.
Copyright (c) 2024 Lucimara Albieri de Oliveira, Andressa Kucla da Rocha Brzezinski https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Investigating the integration of Rosa Mística Community with Riacho das Piabas in Campina Grande, Paraíba, based on configurational and behavioral analyses
Bodies of water play a key role in the dynamics of the urban environment, serving various functions and contributing to a positive relationship between human and water within urban areas. In this sense, this article seeks to evaluate the integration of the Rosa Mística Community with the Piabas Creek in the city of Campina Grande, using the Space Syntax Theory approach. The methodological process took place in five stages: data collection and selection; preparation of georeferenced maps; configurational analysis; behavioral analysis; and evaluation of the spatial and visual integration of the community with the Piabas Creek. The results obtained indicate that the low level of physical and visual integration between the Rosa Mística Community and the Piabas Creek impairs not only its appropriation by residents, but also their relationship with the body of water as a whole.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Mauro Normando Macêdo Barros Filho, Dra. Kainara Lira dos Anjos, Roneide Martins de Andrade https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0