Café na Praça Eduardo Trevisan, Santa Maria, RS

Abstract

This article portrays the experience of the emergence of the Coffee in the Square event, held at Eduardo Trevisan Square, in Santa Maria, RS. The square is located in a relevant historical area of the city, linked to the railway memory, but is underutilized. The studies of Alexander, Whyte, Jacobs and Gehl confirm that one of the strategies for public spaces to be well used is to carry out activities that invite even more people to appropriate the streets and stay there. Inspired by a similar event in Porto Alegre, the Coffee in the Square aims to strengthen the character of being on the square by approaching neighbors and users. The strategy used was to hold events in the square, where users could spend time together and, consequently, draw attention to their poor state of conservation, potential and possibilities of recovery of the public space. Two editions of the Coffee in the Square were held in 2016, which proved to be an interesting experience to be held, as it brought to prominence the Eduardo Trevisan Square within the Santa Maria scenario. Actions like these in public spaces put them in evidence, calling the population to be on the streets and enjoy community life, so that there is more liveliness in Brazilian cities.