Sistema construtivo e ampliabilidade em habitações de interesse social: análise e proposições de soluções na busca de resiliência

Abstract

Resilience, in its broadest definition, has increasingly drawn attention across multiple disciplines, from psychology to ecology. However, its application to the built environment—particularly in Brazilian Social Housing (SH)—still lacks in-depth investigation, especially when articulated with the analysis of construction systems. This research seeks to address this gap by examining how resilience in the built environment of HIS relates to the use of load-bearing wall systems. In this context, resilience can be understood as the capacity of both the built environment and its inhabitants to adapt, transform, and respond to vulnerabilities and impacts. This encompasses not only the dwellings’ adaptability but also the residents’ responses to unforeseen events, such as social changes and climate impacts. Load-bearing masonry is widely adopted in HIS projects in Brazil, offering different constructive possibilities. Hence, the central research question is: how do the choice and characteristics of the construction system impact the expandability of built space in single-story social housing? To explore this, the study investigated how load-bearing systems influence the execution of home expansions. The methodological approach followed a hypothetico-deductive model and was guided by the Design Science Research (DSR) framework, focusing on the creation of an applied artifact. Three Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) instruments were employed: a questionnaire, a walkthrough, and a resilience ruler, all applied in two consolidated housing complexes: Residencial Sucesso Brasil (load-bearing masonry with ceramic blocks) and Residencial Pequis (cast-in-place concrete wall system), both located in Uberlândia, MG, and financed under Tier 1 of the Minha Casa, Minha Vida Program. The research is part of the institutional project [CASA RESILIENTE], which aims to propose strategies for renovations in single-family HIS, emphasizing resilience enhancement. The findings indicate that the adopted construction system directly influences the possibilities and challenges of expansion. In both complexes, self-construction predominated, often carried out without technical support, involving structural alterations and the emergence of pathologies. The integrated analysis of the instruments revealed low levels of resilience in the attributes of flexibility and resistance, pointing to vulnerabilities in both spatial adaptability and housing durability. As an applied outcome, the research developed a set of guidance booklets aimed at residents and ATHIS professionals, organized according to the most recurrent problems identified. These booklets provide technical recommendations compatible with the structural limitations of the units, seeking to promote safer, more durable interventions adapted to real conditions of use and occupancy. It is concluded that analyzing resilience in HIS through the lens of expandability and construction systems can support more effective actions to improve the built environment, while also fostering reflections on the importance of technical assistance, incremental habitability, and resident empowerment. The transfer of technical knowledge thus becomes a key factor for the ongoing improvement of housing quality and resilience over time.