Modern collective housing in Rio de Janeiro: considerations about its conservation carla maria teixeira coelho

Abstract

Collective housing was the focus of architects and urban planners during the Modern Movement. Starting on the 20th century, multi-family residential buildings have become one of the most representative elements of urban centers’ landscapes. With the growing debate on the preservation of the Modern Movement legacy, many modern residential buildings have been recognized as a heritage to be preserved in several countries. In Brazil, this kind of recognition is happening mostly in the state or municipal level. This study aims to outline a brief history of residential buildings in Rio de Janeiro, emphasizing the main changes brought by Modern Movement architects. It also presents an analysis of the building’s peculiar features and discusses ongoing actions for their conservation.