About This Resource
Rio de Janeiro's favelas (hillside informal settlements) feature extensive networks of staircases providing essential access for residents. These stairs connect homes built at different elevations on steep hillsides and are vital infrastructure for communities where vehicles can't access. Some favela stairs have been transformed through art projects, most notably in Santa Marta where Dutch artists Jeroen Koolhaas and Dre Urhahn painted colorful murals on stairways. These community staircase projects have brought international attention to favelas while providing improved infrastructure. The stairs represent both urban challenges and community resilience in rapidly urbanizing areas.
