Towards more resilient and energy efficient social housing in Brazil

This paper aims to present a critical review to the Brazilian national housing program, known as “Minha Casa, Minha Vida” (“My House, My Life”). This critique has two main levels or scales and is presented through a design proposal. On one level, the urban scale, we have discussed the impacts of these housing projects in the city and public spaces. On the other level, the scale of the buildings, we have discussed the restrictions imposed by the government, particularly how they impact energy efficiency and the size of individual units.