THE KITCHENETTE PHENOM IN HOUSING COMPLEXES IN NATAL/RN
Kitchenette. Rentism. Housing complexes. Natal/Brazil.
The kitchenette is a terminology currently used in several Brazilian cities to define
small housing units. It has become a popular housing option for people who, in addition
to location, prioritize aspects related to saving money on home maintenance. This type
of house is produced without any sophisticated adornments and is known for its
simplicity. With a space that communicates entirely with other rooms without a partition
(except for the bathroom), the studio apartment has not only been embraced by the
market, but has also gained prominence for proving to be an accessible commodity for
the population. Its commercial expansion through the rental service is understood by the
owner as a form of investment. His interest is precisely to remain in indirect possession
of the property, which allows him to accumulate wealth. This process of accumulation
happens naturally through the exploitation of that part of the population that is part of a
social class without financial resources. As a result, the practice of rentism associated
with the use of kitchenette is becoming increasingly common. Based on this scenario,
the research, from the perspective of the city of Natal-RN, aims to answer these
questions: how is the market transforming housing complexes by appropriating the
process of producing and reproducing kitchenette? Are these properties regularized in
the terms required by current legislation? In view of these questions, the research aims
to examine the process of transformation of four housing complexes built by Cohab:
Cidade da Esperança, Igapó, Jiqui and Pirangi, as a result of the (re)production of
housing called kitchenette. The theoretical-methodological procedures include the
analysis of data (quantitative and qualitative) obtained especially through information
from the residents and owners of the kitchenette, as well as from the Municipal
Secretariat for the Environment and Urbanism - SEMURB (Natal/RN) and the notary
and registry service, which are directly involved in the process of regularizing the
kitchenette. The preliminary results show that the housing complexes are being
transformed, reproducing a scenario that is widespread in several Brazilian capitals. In
several places where there was a strictly residential property, there is now a building
constructed with an emphasis on rentier activity.