Preserving a modern housing model

Abstract

This paper examines the history of Pedregulho Housing Neighborhood, built between 1948 and 1960 by the Department of Popular Housing in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from the first concepts to the restoration in 2015. Conceived by the urbanists Carmen Portinho and Affonso E. Reidy, it became one of the most emblematic works of modern Brazilian architecture. After years of neglect, in 2015 housing Block A of the neighborhood underwent restoration, one of the only such projects on social housing complexes in Latin America. The paper discusses the housing complex’s history, focusing on the intervention and restoration project, its criteria and challenges, and also the aims and demands by the residents during the works.

Keywords

• Modern Movement
• Modern architecture
• Modern housing
• Post-war housing
• Welfare architecture
• Mass housing