The Bay of All Saints, located about fifty kilometers from Aratuípe, was one of the first areas in Brazil to be colonized. In the 1560s, following the arrival of colonists on the Brazilian coast and their attempts to claim the land, cattle ranching developed, closely linked to the expansion of the sugar industry. Cattle were used for transporting sugarcane, for traction in certain mills, and also as a food source for the colonists. The result of this livestock farming was the creation of large fazendas (large agricultural estates dedicated to crops or livestock) and the displacement of the Indigenous populations originally present along the coast, who migrated inland. At the same time, the timber trade, including valuable woods such as pau-brasil (Brazilwood), grew due to the colonists’ fascination with the exotic appeal of these new species. This not only provided a new product for the European market, generating wealth, but also created large spaces suitable for constructing fazendas. In the second half of the 20th century, private companies acquired large tracts of land to establish forests for the timber trade. The introduction of eucalyptus monocultures near the coast destroyed a significant portion of the Mata Atlântica that had survived on these lands. What once hosted countless animal and plant species has gradually been impoverished over time. Since then, and continuing to the present day, the territory of Bahia has been heavily altered. It is in response to this tragedy, more relevant than ever, that the Refazenda project was conceived.

Driven by the belief that architecture and design can make a meaningful impact, the project was designed to organize the entire mission in an optimal way. From the architectural design to the selection of species to be planted, as well as the daily schedule, every aspect is planned to facilitate the work of volunteers. A team of ten specialists, selected for their motivation and commitment, will spend one year in the Bahia region to carry out a reforestation mission using the Miyawaki method. Participants will live in portable, reversible architecture inspired by the indigenous habitats of the area. The architecture is composed of modules with similar structures, which can be arranged differently depending on the type of space desired. Built on stilts, they are easily assembled and respectful of the ground on which they stand. Once the mission is completed, a new team will take over to help develop a healthy and sustainable forest. After three years, when the forest becomes self-sufficient, the architecture can be dismantled and reused for other similar missions.