In the vibrant coastal region of Matinhos, Brazil, a powerful narrative unfolds, showcasing not just the construction of a house, but the deliberate crafting of a life defined by resilience, community, and a profound commitment to self-determination.
This is the story of a queer family's journey to establish a home, one that transcends conventional architectural and social norms, embodying a philosophy deeply rooted in sustainability, flexibility, and collective action. Their experiences illuminate a path for many seeking alternative ways of living, particularly within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in Brazil, where creating one's own space often becomes an act of radical self-affirmation.
The tale begins with a fundamental human need: shelter.
Yet, for this family, the pursuit of accessible land, conveniently located near both a university and young Derick's school, quickly led them down an unconventional path. Their initial efforts to build within an informal housing settlement, known as Ocupação 4, represented a courageous attempt to secure a future amidst the complexities of Brazil's housing landscape.
This "ocupação," a Portuguese term for an occupation or taking possession of unoccupied land, often emerges from social movements advocating for housing rights, aiming to pressure authorities into providing decent living solutions for low-income communities. It is a testament to the persistent struggles faced by many Brazilians in accessing affordable and secure housing.
The difficult beginnings: housing struggles in Matinhos
The early days of their housing project were marked by hope and communal effort, as the family began laying the groundwork for their new home within Ocupação 4.
This initiative, however, was brutally cut short. Before construction could be completed, the occupation became the target of a swift and severe police raid. This state intervention led to the expropriation of the land and the systematic destruction of a significant portion of the burgeoning structures and building materials that had been accumulated.
The abrupt and violent nature of this disruption was not merely a setback; it was a devastating blow to the dreams and hard work invested by the families living there.
The occupation and its abrupt end
For many families in Brazil, participation in an ocupação represents a desperate, yet often organized, effort to claim their right to a dignified living space.
These movements are frequently comprised of individuals and families who have been marginalized by systemic inequalities, including single mothers and their children, who face additional hurdles in securing stable housing. The raid on Ocupação 4 was a stark reminder of the precariousness inherent in such informal settlements.
The loss of their partially built home and materials was not just an economic blow; it was a profound psychological trauma, challenging their sense of security and belonging. This event underscored the deep-seated tensions between housing activism and state power, illustrating the risks involved in challenging established land ownership paradigms.
A cinematic reflection: "Mães do Derick"
It was amidst this very process of disruption and displacement that the film Mães do Derick (Derick's Mothers) concludes.
The documentary, a poignant portrayal of their lives, captures the raw emotion and uncertainty following the raid. While many of the families who had occupied the site bravely returned to resume their presence, the family at the heart of our story—Thammy, Marina Chiva, Bruna, and Derick—made a different, albeit equally courageous, decision.
They chose to abandon the remains of their damaged structure and embark on an entirely new housing endeavor. This choice was not born of defeat but of a renewed commitment to finding a more secure and autonomous path forward, one that would insulate them from the arbitrary forces that had so violently uprooted their first attempt.
The film, therefore, serves as a powerful testament to their resilience, documenting a pivotal moment that propelled them towards an even more intentional and self-directed future.
Forging a new path: acquiring land for a secure future
The decision to leave Ocupação 4 led Thammy, Marina Chiva, and their family to an innovative solution for land acquisition.
The legal purchase of a new plot became possible through the invaluable support of a compassionate friend. This friend intervened by purchasing the previously occupied land themselves, effectively creating a buffer that guaranteed the families in the original occupation could continue to reside there without the constant threat of seizure.
For Thammy's family, this act of solidarity was a turning point. It provided them with a foundation of security that had been missing in their prior experience, enabling them to pursue their housing dreams on their own terms, free from the immediate fear of displacement.
This unconventional land acquisition model highlights the creative strategies and community networks that often emerge in response to systemic housing challenges in Brazil.
Autonomy within a movement: a family's unique ownership
Today, Thammy, Chiva, Bruna, and Derick stand as the only family from that original occupation movement to have fully acquired a plot of this land.
This singular ownership grants them an unparalleled level of autonomy over how they utilize their space and manage its natural vegetation. While they now possess complete legal control over their property, they meticulously maintain their vital connection to the broader occupation movement.
This movement, composed predominantly of single mothers and their children, continues to fight for housing rights and community recognition. Their unique position allows them to experiment with innovative living arrangements and sustainable practices on their own terms, while simultaneously remaining deeply engaged with the collective struggles and aspirations of their community.
Their home, therefore, becomes a living model, demonstrating how secure ownership can coexist with radical social engagement, providing a tangible example of self-determination within a wider movement for social change.
Architecture of intention: building with sustainability and flexibility
The design and construction choices for their new home were far from arbitrary; they were deliberate decisions reflecting a deep philosophical commitment to sustainability, affordability, and adaptability.
The entire structure was built exclusively from wood, a material chosen for multiple compelling reasons. Beyond its inherent ecological benefits and its relatively lower cost compared to conventional building materials, wood offered a unique advantage that aligned perfectly with their vision for an evolving home.
The absence of traditional materials like putty or cement in their construction process provided them with an extraordinary degree of freedom to modify, expand, or reconfigure their living spaces whenever the need arose. This intentional choice meant that structural alterations could be made without the destructive and wasteful processes typically associated with renovation—no breaking down solid walls, no generation of excessive rubble, and no loss of valuable building materials.
This approach underscores a proactive stance against the disposability often inherent in modern construction, favoring a cyclical, responsive model that respects resources and future needs.
The wooden embrace: a home designed to evolve
This "design for disassembly" or "design for change" ethos is central to their architectural philosophy.
It acknowledges that life is dynamic and that a home, to truly serve its inhabitants, must be equally fluid. The use of wood allowed for easy adjustments, empowering the family to continuously adapt their physical environment to their changing lives, preferences, and circumstances.
This flexibility is not just practical; it is deeply symbolic, representing their refusal to be confined by rigid structures or predetermined blueprints. Instead, their home became a living entity, constantly in dialogue with its residents, capable of being shaped and reshaped to better support their evolving needs.
This commitment to an adaptive, wood-based bioconstruction method positions their dwelling as a tangible manifestation of their values, showcasing a mindful and sustainable approach to housing that stands in stark contrast to conventional building practices.
A dynamic dwelling: adapting to life's changing needs
In March 2019, the house, a product of their ingenuity and labor, featured two floors, each measuring 6 by 2 meters.
The ground floor was designed as a communal hub, containing only the kitchen and an adjoining living room, fostering an open and interactive atmosphere. The upper floor, in contrast, was dedicated to individual privacy, housing four small bedrooms - one for each inhabitant - alongside a versatile mezzanine area and a dry restroom.
This initial layout reflected an early understanding of individual needs within a collective living space. However, their philosophy regarding these individual rooms transcended the conventional notion of them merely as sleeping quarters. The family emphasized that the significance of having a single room was not solely tied to the act of sleeping but rather to providing a personalized sanctuary for other objects, hobbies, and activities.
For instance, given the compact size of the bedrooms, a bed would have occupied almost the entire space. Recognizing this, Bruna and Derick creatively utilized their individual rooms for personal pursuits, choosing instead to share the more spacious and adaptable mezzanine for sleeping.
This innovative approach highlighted their commitment to making every part of their home multifunctional and deeply reflective of their individual and collective lifestyles.
From two floors to a single story: a responsive redesign
Life, however, often presents unforeseen challenges that demand adaptation.
A significant turning point in the house's evolution occurred when Thammy underwent knee surgery. This medical necessity rendered the use of stairs unfeasible for a period and simultaneously reduced the available workforce for construction. Coupled with an emerging issue related to the home's original foundation, these circumstances necessitated a radical re-evaluation of the existing structure.
Embracing their philosophy of flexibility, the family opted to disassemble the entire upper floor. This bold decision paved the way for a comprehensive redesign, re-dividing the space into three larger bedrooms on the ground floor. This reconfiguration not only addressed the immediate need for a downstairs bedroom but also optimized the use of space, creating more functional and accessible living areas.
Over the subsequent months, the rebuilding process became a collaborative effort. Chiva and Bruna shared the worksite with a skilled builder friend and a master builder, working hand-in-hand to construct the new layout and refine the project's plans. This collaborative, hands-on approach ensured that every modification was deeply aligned with their evolving needs and aspirations, further solidifying the house as a dynamic reflection of their journey.
The philosophy of inhabiting: a conscious and active approach
For Thammy, Bruna, Chiva, and Derick, the act of inhabiting extends far beyond merely occupying a physical space; it is a profoundly active and conscious practice, a philosophy they have cultivated since their days of sharing a rented house.
Every design choice, every construction method, and every personal subjectivity is intricately interconnected, reflecting a continuous engagement with their environment. They view inhabiting not as a passive state but as an ongoing act of identity, one that must necessarily exist in harmony with all other spheres of their lives.
This holistic perspective means that their home is not just a structure; it is an extension of their values, their relationships, and their worldview. It embodies a deliberate rejection of consumerist notions of housing, instead favoring a space that genuinely nurtures their well-being and facilitates their chosen lifestyle.
This conscious approach to living ensures that their home remains a dynamic entity, perpetually shaped by their experiences and aspirations, always in tune with the rhythm of their lives.
Beyond aesthetics: a house as a tool for a transgressive life
The philosophical underpinnings of this group of residents, builders, mothers, and architects also deeply influence the very making of their space.
Their house does not emerge as a mere aesthetic or sculptural architectural object, intended solely for visual appeal. Instead, it functions as a practical tool, specifically designed to support a particular experience and a relationship with the world that is inherently transgressive.
In this context, "transgressive" refers to challenging established norms, whether social, architectural, or familial. The spatial qualities of this construction are, therefore, intrinsically linked to the political, affective, and individual qualities of the group.
A house with these unique material and organizational characteristics could only exist because it was conceived by and built for them, reflecting their specific needs, desires, and ideological stance. It is a testament to the power of self-definition, where the built environment serves as an active participant in their ongoing journey of challenging and redefining what it means to live authentically.
Always evolving: the home as a constant project
In this sense, the act of rebuilding and reconfiguring their house, often multiple times over, is not viewed as a singular, one-off process, but rather as a constant, ongoing practice.
This perpetual state of evolution is a direct consequence of the autonomy gained by its residents, who design and build according to their own precise and evolving requirements. The house is, quite literally, always "under construction," not because it is unfinished, but because it is perpetually responsive to life's changes.
This fluidity ensures that the home remains perfectly aligned with the needs and aspirations of its inhabitants, rather than becoming a static, unyielding structure that dictates how they must live. This continuous adaptation is a radical departure from conventional housing models, where homes are often considered complete upon occupancy.
For this family, the 'completeness' of their home lies in its capacity for unending transformation, making it a powerful symbol of their dynamic and self-directed approach to life.
Transgressing conventional spaces: a new vision for domestic life
This group of women embarked on a series of profoundly transgressive decisions in the homes they inhabited, directly challenging the deeply ingrained societal norms that dictate how domestic spaces should function.
By deliberately opening the doors of their own homes, they achieved more than just a literal invitation; they fundamentally questioned the rigid differentiation between public and private spaces. This act of openness enabled a powerful phenomenon: the collaborative construction of a new home by themselves, often with the help of community members.
The characterization of their home as a space of belonging, not just for the immediate family but for the entire community, served as a powerful catalyst. It encouraged numerous women to participate in joint efforts, known as mutirões in Portuguese.
These cooperative building endeavors helped to construct a space that would be shared and enjoyed by all, fostering a profound sense of collective ownership and solidarity.
Architecturally, their choices also pointed to innovative ways of organizing domestic life, moving beyond centuries-old conventions.
Open doors: blurring public and private boundaries
The intentional blurring of public and private boundaries within their homes represented a significant departure from traditional Western domestic architecture, which often emphasizes the separation of these spheres.
By creating a more porous and accessible home, they not only fostered stronger community ties but also implicitly critiqued the isolation often imposed by highly privatized living arrangements. This approach facilitated the mutirão, a vital practice in Brazilian culture where collective labor is shared to build or improve homes.
In this context, their home became a hub for mutual collaboration, bringing together neighbors, friends, and community members who voluntarily contributed their labor, resources, and skills.
This collective effort not only accelerated construction and reduced costs but also deepened social bonds, transforming the act of building into a powerful demonstration of community solidarity. Their home thus became a tangible embodiment of a shared vision, challenging the notion that a private dwelling must be an insular space.
Reimagining bedrooms: celebrating individual autonomy
Another profound architectural innovation was their redefinition of the bedroom.
By affirming the individuality of each resident, they effectively rendered the traditional figure of the "double bedroom" obsolete. Instead, they proposed and implemented individual rooms, designed to be independent of pre-established sentimental or relational dynamics.
This was a radical move, especially in a cultural context where shared bedrooms are often assumed for couples or siblings. Their approach championed personal space and autonomy, recognizing the importance of a private sanctuary for each person, irrespective of their relationship status.
This choice underscored a commitment to individual self-determination within the collective, allowing each member of the household to cultivate their own unique space for hobbies, contemplation, and personal growth. It reflected a modern understanding of family and partnership, where individual identities are celebrated alongside shared lives.
The kitchen as hearth: a center for connection and sharing
Perhaps one of their most symbolically significant architectural choices involved the kitchen.
Traditionally characterized as a service area—often isolated, small, and relegated to the back of the house—they consciously moved their kitchen out onto the balcony. This bold relocation transformed it from a utilitarian space into the undeniable heart of the home.
By making the kitchen central and open, they intentionally fostered sharing, socializing, and collective engagement in domestic tasks. This design move had a profound impact on daily life, turning meal preparation into a communal activity rather than an isolated chore.
It encouraged interaction, conversation, and a sense of collective responsibility for the home's sustenance. The kitchen on the balcony became a vibrant hub, reflecting their belief that domestic spaces should facilitate connection and shared experience, rather than reinforcing traditional divisions of labor or social segregation.
It epitomizes their transgressive spirit, reshaping a conventional space to serve a more progressive and communal way of living.
Contextualizing queer spaces: a history of reclaiming domesticity
The innovative domestic practices observed in Matinhos resonate with broader historical and sociological analyses of housing, particularly in homes commissioned or inhabited by women, and more specifically, by queer women.
The esteemed author Alice Friedman, in her insightful studies of all-female client housing, noted a recurring feature in many projects commissioned and inhabited by wealthy women: the presence of a program that often exceeded the conventional boundary between public and private.
These homes frequently served as cultural centers, libraries, or even theaters for their communities, demonstrating an inherent drive to integrate their private lives with broader social engagement. We might reasonably infer that the absence of norms and restrictions typically imposed by the traditional nuclear family organization contributed significantly to these households seeking a stronger, more fluid link with their neighborhoods and communities.
This historical precedent provides a fascinating lens through which to understand the contemporary choices of the Matinhos family, whose domestic decisions similarly challenge the strictures of private life, opening their home outwards.
Women, homes, and community: lessons from history
Friedman's observations highlight a compelling pattern: when freed from the often-constricting expectations of patriarchal, nuclear family structures, women-led households tend to cultivate deeper connections with their surroundings.
This phenomenon is not merely about altruism but about reimagining the home as an active site of social and cultural production, rather than solely a private retreat. For the Matinhos family, their home embodies this spirit, functioning as a nexus for community gatherings and cooperative endeavors.
This historical context suggests that the Matinhos family's choices are not isolated anomalies but are part of a larger, often overlooked, tradition of women shaping domestic spaces to serve broader community needs and progressive social agendas. Their home becomes a contemporary example of how domestic architecture can become a tool for social change, fostering solidarity and challenging conventional boundaries between the personal and the communal.
Gender and spatial appropriation: a tale of two communities
From a gender and sexuality perspective, a compelling pattern emerges in how different queer communities have appropriated and redefined spaces.
Given the pervasive societal split that traditionally associates the male figure with public spaces and the female figure with private spaces, it is perhaps unsurprising to observe distinct approaches. While the gay male community historically appropriated and transformed urban typologies - creating public cruising spaces such as saunas, the banheirão (large communal bathroom), and the cinemão (large cinema used for encounters) - lesbian women often carved out their own spaces of socialization and empowerment predominantly within their homes.
These domestic havens became sites for community building, intellectual exchange, and emotional support, offering a refuge from a heteronormative public sphere. The Matinhos family's project, with its emphasis on an open, community-oriented home and its redefinition of private spaces, strongly aligns with this historical trajectory of lesbian women creating robust and transformative social networks within the domestic realm.
Their home is not just a dwelling; it is a meticulously designed sanctuary for queer life and collective flourishing in Brazil.
Navigating Brazilian social and cultural terms
Understanding the context of the Matinhos story and similar social movements in Brazil requires familiarity with specific Portuguese terms that carry profound cultural and political weight.
These terms, often deeply embedded in the history of social justice and community action, provide crucial insights into the struggles and strategies employed by marginalized communities seeking to redefine their living conditions and social interactions.
Ocupação: the fight for housing rights
The word "ocupação," in the context of social movements advocating for housing in Brazil, refers to the deliberate act of taking possession of an unoccupied property, which can be either privately or publicly owned.
This action is a powerful form of protest and a direct demand for dignified housing. Occupations are strategically designed to pressure governmental bodies to implement effective housing solutions, such as affordable housing initiatives or comprehensive urban reform policies, that directly address the critical needs of low-income communities.
They represent a collective assertion of the right to housing, highlighting systemic inequalities and often leading to direct confrontations with authorities or private property owners. The Matinhos family's initial involvement in Ocupação 4 exemplifies this ongoing struggle, showcasing the immense courage and collective spirit required to challenge the status quo in pursuit of a fundamental human right.
Mutirão: the power of collective building
In the vibrant tapestry of Brazilian social and construction practices, "mutirão" refers to a deeply ingrained cooperative tradition.
It describes a collective practice where a group of individuals voluntarily come together to undertake a construction or renovation task on a home, frequently with the explicit goal of assisting a community member in acquiring or improving their dwelling.
This activity embodies the spirit of mutual collaboration, wherein neighbors, friends, or members of a wider community pool their labor, resources, and diverse skills. The aim is to complete construction projects efficiently, often at a significantly reduced cost, by sharing the workload.
Mutirões are an enduring and vital tradition within Brazilian culture, serving as an effective and empowering method for tackling persistent housing challenges in various regions of the country. For the Matinhos family, the mutirão was not just a building technique; it was a profound expression of community solidarity and collective agency, turning the act of construction into a social celebration.
Cinemão and banheirão: spaces of queer expression
In Brazil, the terms "cinemão" (big cinema) and "banheirão" (big bathroom) refer to public spaces that have been historically appropriated and recontextualized by gay culture.
These locations, such as public restrooms or certain street cinemas, evolved into significant meeting points for flirting, socializing, and sexual activities within the gay male community. These spaces emerged out of a necessity to create discreet yet accessible arenas for connection in societies where public displays of same-sex affection or relationships were, and often still are, subject to social stigma or legal repercussions.
They represent an ingenious form of spatial reclamation, transforming mundane public utilities into clandestine, yet vital, hubs for queer expression and community building. While distinct from the domestic redefinitions seen in Matinhos, these terms underscore the broader theme of queer communities actively shaping their environment to meet their social and relational needs, whether in public or private spheres.
Brazil has made significant strides in LGBT rights, with homosexual activity being legal since 1983, same-sex marriage legalized in 2013, and LGBT discrimination outlawed in 2019, alongside equal age of consent since 1983. These legal advancements provide a crucial backdrop, illustrating the progress in a country where spaces like the cinemão and banheirão were once essential clandestine meeting points, highlighting a continuing journey towards full acceptance and integration.
A beacon of resilience and redefined living in Brazil
The story of the queer family in Matinhos, Brazil, is far more than an account of building a physical structure; it is a profound testament to human resilience, an exploration of alternative modes of living, and a powerful demonstration of community-driven change.
From the initial heartbreak of displacement within Ocupação 4 to the intentional crafting of their unique, wood-built home, their journey encapsulates a philosophy that places identity, adaptability, and social connection at the very core of what it means to inhabit a space.
Their choices—from sustainable bioconstruction to the radical redefinition of private and communal areas—challenge deeply ingrained societal norms, offering a blueprint for a life lived authentically and in harmony with one's values.
The enduring legacy of Matinhos
This home in Matinhos stands as a vibrant, living example of how a queer community can not only survive but thrive by forging its own path.
It embodies a proactive approach to housing, where the dwelling is not a static object but a dynamic tool, constantly evolving to meet the needs of its inhabitants and the wider community. By blurring the lines between public and private, by reimagining traditional domestic spaces like the kitchen and bedrooms, and by embracing collaborative building practices such as the mutirão, Thammy, Chiva, Bruna, and Derick have created more than just a house.
They have cultivated a sanctuary, a laboratory for living, and a beacon of hope for others seeking to build lives that are deeply rooted in self-determination, sustainability, and unwavering community support. Their story in Matinhos resonates as a powerful narrative of empowerment, showcasing how the act of building a home can truly be an act of building a better world.