Joice Berth: real estate is part of the problem, but also part of the solution for cities
- On the NXT Podcast, the urban planner discusses gentrification, urban inequality and the role of real estate in transforming cities
The real estate market can contribute to deepening urban inequalities, but it is also among the players with the greatest capacity to help transform them. That is the assessment of architect and urban planner Joice Berth, guest on the latest episode of the NXT Podcast, hosted by Giancarlo Nicastro, CEO of SiiLA.
Author of Se a cidade fosse nossa, Berth argues that the development of Brazilian cities has historically prioritized economic interests over the well-being of part of the population. According to her, this process can be seen in the way urban infrastructure itself is distributed.
Bringing the discussion to the real estate market, Nicastro directly asks whether developers, investors and property owners are part of the problem. “The way it is currently structured, it is part of the problem,” Berth responds.
The urban planner points to real estate speculation and pressure on planning decisions, while emphasizing that the sector also holds a privileged position from which it can drive change.
“It is part of the problem, sometimes it even helps create the problem, but it is also part of the solution,” she says. According to Berth, developers and investors are close to decision-making circles and, as a result, can take a more active role in fulfilling the social function of cities.
The discussion takes on a practical dimension when the conversation turns to the redevelopment of abandoned properties. A new development can bring investment, infrastructure and appreciation to a given area.
The conversation also addresses architecture, mobility, urban segregation, fear, empowerment and the ways in which spaces influence people’s behavior.
Joice Berth is an architect, urban planner and writer, and the author of books including Se a cidade fosse nossa and Empoderamento. Her work connects urban planning with social inequality, gender and race.
Watch the full episode of the NXT Podcast
