Communities

aka Favelas, Slums, and Squats

Favelas

The first favela, now known as Providência in the center of Rio de Janeiro, appeared in the late 19th century, built by soldiers who had nowhere to live following the Canudos War.

Most modern favelas appeared in the 1970s due to rural exodus, when many people left rural areas of Brazil and moved to cities. Unable to find places to live, many people found themselves in favelas

Brazil

Rio de Janeiro

Inside FAVELAS of Rio de Janeiro - BRAZILIAN FOOD TOUR

Colombia

Medellín

Entering the Murder Capital of the World

Hong Kong

Kowloon Walled City: Hong Kong’s City of Darkness

India

THE HUMAN Side of INDIA’S BIGGEST SLUM

Venezuela

Caracas

Tower of David

aka Centro Financiero Confinanzas

A partially completed skyscraper Caracas Venezuela that was abandoned due to the Venezuelan banking crisis. A housing shortage led to occupation by squatters led by ex-convicts with over 200 families, about 40% of Caracas’s “informal communities”, taking over the center. The population gre to seven hundread families made of over 2,500 residents in 2011 and had a peak population of 5,000.

Residents improvised basic utility services with water reaching all the way up to the 22nd floor.

Venezuela’s Tower of Dreams

The Tower of David: Venezuela’s Squatter Skyscraper

Occupy Tower: Living in the world’s tallest slum