CRAterre took part in the IV Colóquio Habitat, Cidadania e Agroecologia no Campo, nas Águas e Florestas, held in Brasília.
This fourth edition of the colloquium marked an expansion of the debates toward the interconnected issues of rural housing, citizenship, and agroecology. It represents a joint initiative by researchers from different regions of Brazil aiming to deepen scientific, technical, and political reflections on the processes shaping rural habitats, both in Brazil and across Latin America.
Under the theme “Ocupar, conquistar e habitar os territórios rurais em disputa” (“Occupying, conquering, and inhabiting contested rural territories”), the event brought together academics, rural social movements, Indigenous and quilombola representatives, civil society organizations, and public actors. Discussions addressed several key topics, including:
territorial planning and rural housing projects;
social housing policies in rural areas;
conflicts related to access to land, water, and natural resources;
agroecological practices and peasant dynamics;
the cultural, spiritual, and ecological dimensions of dwelling.
Guarani constructive culture: strengthening the Nhanderekó
The presentation delivered by CRAterre, entitled “Cultura Construtiva guarani, reforçando o Nhanderekó no território”, contributes to these reflections. It was based on doctoral research carried out under a joint supervision (cotutelle) between AE&CC / ENSAG / UGA and HABIS / IAU / USP (Brazil).
The presentation explored the relationships between habitat, territory, and ecosystem, as well as Guarani cosmology and collective practices. The spatial organization of contemporary communities reveals the living connection between cosmology, territory, and ecosystem, particularly through the materialization of commons, collective spaces, architecture, and struggles for ecological commons.
At the heart of the discussions lies a central idea: habitat cannot be reduced to a simple shelter. It involves ecological, social, cultural, and spiritual relationships with the territory. In contexts marked by land conflicts and environmental pressures, traditional constructive cultures represent both expressions of autonomy and sources of inspiration for rethinking contemporary models of housing production.
This participation strengthened exchanges between academic research, Indigenous knowledge, and field practices, positioning CRAterre’s work within broader Latin American debates on the relationships between architecture, territory, and citizenship.
