PRO-PEC TOWER

Academic Project | Summer 2022 | Design 10

The island of Combu, located off the coast of Belem, Brazil, is the heart of the Acai trade. The island is the fourth largest in the state of Pará and is part of the Amazon Forest. The island is rich in vegetation and thrives on minimal human impacts on the environment. The local “peconheiros” risk their lives harvesting this precious fruit, but it is an integral part of their culture and lifestyle to both self-sustain and commercialize their farming. The process of harvesting it is known to be dangrous involving injuries as they jump from palm to palm. The açaí palm is thin and requires the peconheiros to climb up to 60 ft. to harvest the berries at the crownshaft.

Ilha do Combu is has a rich culture surrounding food from the way they grow, consume it and market it. Food is not only seen as something they can eat but as something that brings people together. The majority of the island is covered in trees making most of the buildings being located at the edge of the island that creates this sense of community and relationship with the water where they use to harvest fish and travel to other parts of the island or to Belem.

Tray Of Experiences

In order to display the unique qualities of the island, a physical and digital experience is created through the creation of a physical mood board that incorporates the 5 senses of elements you can find on the island. An interactive walkthrough can be experienced digitally where it takes you through the the daily life of a peconheiro.

Sight

Fabric representing the colors of Belem

Touch

Texture of the soil, palm leaf, acai powder, burlap fabric

Smell

Different cuisines, essential oils (patchouli, rain, & seashore)

Sound

Mini speaker used to play the atmosphere of the forest and sounds of the animals

Taste

Acai with dark chocolate

89%

Of Respondents Said That Someone In Their Family Had Been Hurt While Working In Their A A Zal

Strains, cuts, bruising, or overuse from climbing and removing berries

Hands

Cuts from snake bites, axe injuries, long term arching of legs due to continuously climbing and cutting

Legs

Physical Dangers Associated with Acai Harvesting

Fractures, abrasions, cuts from knife/machete, straining of muscles

Arms

54% of victims were hospitalized

9% had to go to Belém for specialized care

48% required a recovery period (<10 days)

30% required a recovery period (<60 days)

Calluses, spider bites, stomping when removing stumps, strains, pinning

Feet