Ricardo de Olivera is a Brazilian 'pedreiro', a real rebel architect. He has built over 100 houses with no formal training while utilising the most basic tools, all within his local community of Rocinha, Brazil's largest favela, situated right in the centre of Rio de Janeiro. Luis Carlos Toledo, the architect behind the master plan for the government's regeneration of Rocinha, was considered a radical for working on favela urbanisation long before it became fashionable and says living conditions can and must be improved.
