CEPAC sales finance tunnels (4 kilometers); roadways
area were rerouted, a turning point in making Praça Tira-
(70 kilometers), and sidewalks (650K square meters); service
dentes a new type of destination. These key measures are
networks (700 km), including drainage, electrical, piped gas,
of great relevance. They enhance the permeability of this
and telephone lines, and public lighting infrastructures. Addi-
public space, while also restoring the primacy of pedestrians
tional plans include 17 km of paved bicycle paths and 15,000
over buses and cars. Additionally, Praça Tiradentes’ identity
planted trees. The project requires the demolition of a 4 km
and function as a public plaza were reiterated once street
long elevated highway, the Perimetral, replacing it with an un-
parking was prohibited. One can now spend leisure hours
derground expressway and three new sewage treatment plants.
seated on a public bench under the protective shadow of a
This new infrastructure network is designed to accom-
mature tree in front of the larger-than-life equestrian monu-
modate long-term population growth in the area, and to
ment of Emperor Dom Pedro I, erected in 1872 to celebrate
bolster economic activities in the expanded downtown area.
Brazil’s fiftieth anniversary of independence from Portugal.
A new granite pavement sidewalk promotes non-motorized
Despite these critical physical interventions, the authors
mobility, improved pedestrian circulation and encourages
caution that much more is required to regenerate civic life
low carbon emission mass transport systems to enhance en-
in an abandoned and economically stagnant place. Address-
vironmental sustainability. Project innovations also include
ing questions of relevance and historic context is a vital step
selective solid waste collection and recycling, and intelligent
in restoring these assets. We must ask ourselves if we are
traffic management systems.
looking at a particular legacy quality, or at the context of a
The authors note that within the historic neighborhoods of
certain period in history. Heritage assets, as an assemblage
Saúde, Santo Cristo, Gamboa, and Centro (known as SAGAS),
of historic sites and monuments, can function on a symbolic
there are approximately 1,500 historic buildings that are large-
level as historic reminders, and simultaneously as projec-
ly privately owned. Some are underutilized, while others are
tions of future spaces, inspiring new ideas and opportunities.
in need of restoration and conservation. These historic build-
The article describes the adaptive reuse of the Centro
ings offer abundant opportunities for adaptive reuse with infill
Carioca de Design at Praça Tiradentes. Formerly the residence
housing and potential to increase population density of the
of Bidú Sayão, the 20th century Brazilian soprano, the design
area. Porto Maravilha is a prime location for corporate offices,
center was repurposed for art exhibits and professional ex-
hotels, and residential buildings. It presents an opportunity to
change programs. Its usage is geared to urban designers and
rebuild the city center, integrating past with present, to gener-
architects, and it counts Columbia University’s Studio X as a
ate value for its future.
tenant. Praça Tiradentes regained its historic identity, and in turn injected its transformative energy into cultural and artis-
“The Revitalization of Praça Tiradentes”
tic activities impacting Rio de Janeiro’s creative economy.
Washington Fajardo, Aline Romano Xavier, Felipe Cristiano Reigada, and Paula Oliveira Camargo
“The Property Market in Rio de Janeiro in the Times of Olympic Games”
This essay examines an array of challenges that arose
Ana Carmen Alvarenga
mid-project to restore and revitalize Praça Tiradentes, a historic downtown plaza in Rio de Janeiro. The authors
Alvarenga concentrates on the recent five-year evolution of
question the rationale for upgrading a historic site at a time
Rio de Janeiro’s commercial real estate market. Real estate
when Rio is implementing more conventional urban renew-
in Rio has become one of the world’s most attractive invest-
al and when historical restorations on this scale are not typi-
ments. Due to a chronic shortage of available quality loca-
cally considered. The Praça Tiradentes project was developed
tions for new developments, strong growth in the petroleum
in partnership with the city administration and the Ministry
and gas sectors, and in consumer goods, the value of Class
of Culture’s Programa Monumenta, with the assistance of an
A corporate real estate has increased by roughly ten percent
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) loan.
annually from 2007 to 2011. In 2013, commercial office rent-
The project was completed after a protracted implemen-
290
als went for between R$100 (US$42) and R$145 (US$60) per
tation process, in August 2011. The plaza streetscape was
square meter per month. Due to the market’s value appreci-
completely transformed with the removal of a cast iron se-
ation during this period, 550,000 square meters of new floor
curity fence that enclosed the square and by placing of new
area were built, with over ninety percent already leased or
streetlights. Eleven bus lines that had previously clogged the
sold by the start of construction. Meanwhile, average vacancy
English version