Sea, Slide and Sun

By its economy and its culture, Rio de Janeiro reflects the typical diversity of Brazilian society. It is a city of contrasts, that of landscapes as well as of society; the latters being, for many, related to urban factors. The unusual relief, which gives the city its charm, complicates urbanization and flow management. Furthermore, the excessive expansion of the city has not only engendered a significant increase in pollution but also impeded proper water supply in certain areas, especially in the favelas that hug the hills of Rio de Janeiro; favelas that constitute the most visible illustration of the Cariocas social inequalities and, as such, are a symbol of the city. We can bet on an amplification of these challenges in the coming years, despite the development of the city. To address some of these problems, the project presented here proposes a new mobility system based on the topography of the city. This new network, related to “tubes” or “slides”, would allow citizens to move with ease and independence, while reconnecting various landlocked and underserved neighborhoods. To simplify travel, correspondences will be established with existing subway stations. In contrast to the current situation, the relief of Rio de Janeiro would be an asset in the management of these flows. This new means of transport works independently and does not generate any pollution. These tubes, 3 meters in diameter, include two ways downhill and one ascending. Whatever the direction of traffic, users are sitting on sleds with runners. Downhill, everyone can manage their speed with brakes. Treadmills allow the ascent. A dynamo system will be implemented on the downhill ways, on some sections of the tube, to produce the energy needed to operate treadmills. The space at the bottom of the tube (under the tracks and carpet) includes the mechanisms of recovery and energy storage, as well as ducts for conveying water to currently poorly supplied areas.