︎ Tags: architecture, culture, GSAPP, 2020

Manaus, the biggest urban agglomeration in the middle of the Amazon rainforest is a popular destination for many indigenous people. The decision to move to the city can stem from a combination of factors. It is often associated with expectations of a better standard of living, but mostly also the result of increasing extraction and exploitation of the rainforest and violation of demarcated indigenous territories. Manaus, being the largest city in the Amazon region is a logical choice for many. Most indigenous communities who live in the periphery of the city have limited access to infrastructure, education and healthcare. Simultaneously, the common experience of discrimination and prejudice faced by these minorities leads to suppression of the people’s indigenous identity, and crucially, their language. In many indigenous cultures, oral history and story-telling are central to the passing of culture and knowledge from one generation to the next. There are 19 different indigenous languages spoken in Manaus. Unfortunately, these languages and the culture embedded within them are often at risk in Portuguese speaking Manaus. Our project proposes a network of community centers, focused on the strengthening and adaptation of urban indigenous culture through language revitalization. It will aim to counteract the loss of indigenous cultural identity in the urban context, promote visibility and support the fight for political representation. By providing audio/visual recording and broadcasting programs, education, archive and gathering spaces, the network will allow interaction and coordination between different indigenous groups as well as cross-cultural community exchange. Existing initiatives already present in the community will find a home within the space, making the community center a beacon that draws together support for indigenous groups while simultaneously broadcasting their knowledge and narratives across the Manaus network and potentially throughout the Amazon at large.