The landscape of the Fortaleza River in Blumenau-SC: population perception for its recovery and valuation

Abstract

With the advent of environmental discussions under the paradigm of sustainability, urban rivers worldwide have been the target of recovery projects and valuation. In anticipation of interdisciplinary sustainable design processes, the knowledge and understanding of people's perceptions of the urban river landscapes are the basis for any project that wishes to deploy legitimacy and success. Knowing how people living near a river think and feel about the river and its surroundings allows understanding their interaction with that environment, and also the repercussions of their actions beyond that space. Based on these assumptions, a qualitative research was developed to understand what the people living on the banks of Fortaleza River in Blumenau/SC think and feel about their local landscape. The analysis of interview records and field observations allowed the identification of three broad categories: Memories of Fortaleza River and its importance in their lives; Positive and negative aspects regarding the Fortaleza River landscape; and Proposals for its landscape improvement. This research is expected to support the development of projects and monitoring of their implementation and evaluation processes within the municipal management and academic production not only in Architecture and Urbanism, but in other areas of knowledge, given that living in areas near river banks involve multidisciplinary components.

Keywords:
Landscape; Urban rivers; Environmental perception; Qualitative research