BISSAQUIL, ENTRE A CASA E A RUA. UNIDADE HABITACIONAL NA CIDADE DE BISSAU

Abstract

This dissertation aims to reflect on housing units in the city of Bissau. Since housing plays an influential role in the development of urban complexes, the theme raises issues present in homes, focusing on the design process from the social and cultural structure of Guinea-Bissau, the placement of the house, thermal comfort, the process of appropriation linked to daily activities, and its impact on the transformation of the exterior space between public and private. With a prior analysis of the history of vernacular housing and local resources, this research seeks to understand the architectural aspects present today, stemming from both traditional architecture and colonial architecture, with their methods of design and construction, the latter being the most adopted reference in current single-family housing constructions in Guinea-Bissau. The study also proposes a single-family housing project, divided into three different models based on the most common configurations in Bissau. The project is developed through design, seeking sustainable architectural solutions focused on the use of local materials. The proposal also aims to provide evolving solutions to the phenomenon of continuous housing growth, without losing the house's functionalities or encroaching on public spaces. Lastly, the case study presents a graphic representation that explores different uses of materials and solutions to promote better thermal comfort and reduced energy consumption, as well as addressing security concerns explored in the design of the façades and the transition between interior and exterior spaces, as a reflection of the relationship between the house design and the street's extension and organization.