A autoconstrução de moradias em Macapá e sua relação com manifestações patológicas - Estudo de caso

Abstract

Housing is a fundamental social right; however, the housing deficit and the scarcity of financial resources drive the practice of self-construction in Brazil, especially in peripheral regions such as Macapá, Amapá. This study aimed to analyze the self construction process of family homes and its direct relationship with the incidence of pathological manifestations. The research adopted a qualitative and exploratory approach, based on a case study of eight residences built without formal technical supervision. The methodology relied on data triangulation, using semi-structured interviews with owners to understand socioeconomic and cultural factors, and visual technical inspections (checklist) to identify and classify construction failures. The results revealed that all works were executed without engineering projects, guided exclusively by empirical knowledge and motivated by cost-saving. This informality resulted in a systemic pathological scenario, characterized by the widespread presence of fissures and a high incidence of moisture problems and cracks, in addition to severe manifestations such as reinforcement corrosion and structural cracks. In addition to the structural risk, a severe social cost was observed, with frequent reports of health problems associated with insalubrity and a sense of insecurity among residents regarding the building's stability. It is concluded that self-construction in Macapá, although solving the immediate need for shelter, generates buildings with unsatisfactory performance and low durability. The study highlights the urgency of effectively implementing the Law on Public and Free Technical Assistance (ATHIS) to mitigate technical risks and ensure the right to decent and safe housing.