Welcome to Möbius City, an innovative think tank dedicated to pioneering urban solutions for housing and city planning challenges across the globe. Coordinated by Marco DaCosta, a former Rio de Janeiro Urban Center Director and co-founder of Urban Solutions ING in Brazil, Möbius City is driven by a mission to create sustainable, equitable, and forward-thinking urban environments.
With over 30 years of experience in urban development, Marco DaCosta brings an unmatched depth of knowledge and leadership to the table. Möbius City operates at the intersection of cutting-edge technology, inclusive community design, and sustainable living, making us a leader in solving modern urban challenges.
We offer a range of services to cities, communities, and developers looking for innovative approaches to urbanism. Our five key service areas include:
1. Affordable Housing Design
We specialize in creating inclusive sustainable housing models that prioritize affordability without compromising on quality
2. Urban Renewal & Revitalization
Our team is experienced in transforming outdated urban spaces into vibrant, livable communities through innovative planning and community engagement
3. Sustainable Infrastructure Development
From green energy solutions to eco-friendly transportation systems, we design infrastructure that supports the well-being of both people and the environment.
4. Smart City Implementation
Möbius City integrates technology with urban planning to develop smart, connected cities that enhance quality of life and efficiency.
5. Community-Based Urban Planning
Our participatory approach ensures that local communities are at the heart of our urban solutions, fostering a sense of ownership and inclusivity in every project.
We invite students, architects, social planners, and all visionaries passionate about the future of cities to join us. Whether you're looking to expand your knowledge, collaborate on groundbreaking projects, or influence the future of urban living, Möbius City is the place to connect and create.
Let's build the cities of tomorrow—together!
Our Story /// Urban Solutions (Brazil)
Urban Solutions was formally established on December 30, 2002. It was mobilized around the Family Architect Project, which was created a year earlier at the Rio de Janeiro Center for Architecture and Urbanism (CAU) from a proposal by then-Director Marco DaCosta, in partnership with the community and architect and urban planner Mariana Estevão. In the following months, a group of professionals, including urban architects, engineers, geographers, sociologists, public health doctors, economists, administrators, and communication specialists, among others, all volunteers, dedicated themselves to developing the pilot project to be implemented in the Tavares Bastos Community, in the Catete neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. At the time, the proposal aimed to test the methodology created for the project and evaluate the results. The project establishes as its scope strategies for community mobilization around reflecting on the quality of the built environment and the sustainability of natural environments, in addition to providing technical assistance for the development of spatial interventions that promote housing improvements in self-built homes.
The experience led to the refinement of the project's methodology, from its approach to defining expected outcomes. It raised awareness among residents about the concepts introduced (based on their own statements) and encouraged associativism by strengthening the relationship between local political leaders and the community. This was achieved through the collective construction, in a mutual-aid system, of the headquarters of the Residents' Association, based on a project designed and donated by Urban Solutions.
Starting in 2008, in partnership with the Instituto Vital Brazil in Niterói, Urban Solutions joined the company's Social Responsibility Unit to plan and execute spatial intervention actions and improve the quality of the environment. These efforts began in the areas surrounding the institution's headquarters, materializing the concept that guides the institution's work: the Development of Cities and Communities that Protect Life.
Since then, various actions have been carried out to mobilize and raise awareness among the surrounding population, municipal and state governments, public service providers, organized civil society, and the private sector, with the goal of building partnerships.
One of these partnerships, established between IVB and CEFET Química to develop the School of Factory Program, initiated a professional qualification process to train monitors for participation in other projects, including the Family Architect project. This program, run by the Ministry of Education, aims to provide professional training to young students enrolled in public schools. To this end, Urban Solutions contributed to the development of the pedagogical project and was responsible for the course "Builders of Spaces for Life Protection," where students learn about assessing the quality of the built environment, basic architectural design, and planning and managing construction projects.