The Favela Bairro Program of Rio de Janeiro has been recognized worldwide as one of the most successful informal settlement upgrading programs, recommended by the UN as an example for other countries to follow. However, despite urbanization, the housing situation in Rio de Janeiro's favelas remains challenging - Within the logic of sustainability, housing should not harm the individual or the environment.

As a case study the paper presents the favela Vila Canoas, urbanized in 2000 and currently in the process of regularization - Vila Canoas, with a demographic density 30 times higher than the city's average, has few open spaces amidst its residential buildings.