Ruy Rezende and the challenge of renovating the Edifício Aliança da Bahia without erasing its history

The Aliança da Bahia Building, in Downtown Rio de Janeiro, has drawn renewed attention after being chosen as the venue for CASACOR Rio 2026. But, before hosting the show, the property underwent an important transformation process led by architect Ruy Rezende.

The retrofit project updated the infrastructure and reorganized its internal spaces, demonstrating how historic buildings can incorporate new functions without losing their original identity.

The history of the Aliança da Bahia Building

Located on Rua Araújo Porto Alegre, across from the Gustavo Capanema Palace, the Aliança da Bahia Building was constructed between 1957 and 1961 to house the Aliança da Bahia Insurance Company. Its original design, attributed to the Ramos de Azevedo Technical Office, is part of an important group of modernist buildings in the Esplanada do Castelo area.

Homenagem a Ruy Rezende - Recepção | Bilheteria. Projeto da CASACOR Rio de Janeiro 2026. (André Nazareth/Divulgação)

With 15 floors, the building displays striking features of Brazilian modern architecture, such as glazed façades, metal brises and travertine marble finishes. These elements combine aesthetic expression and functionality, especially in the control of natural light and in the relationship between the interior projects and the urban landscape.

Maurício Nóbrega Arquitetura - Bolhas Bar de Champagne. Projeto da CASACOR Rio de Janeiro 2026. (André Nazareth/Divulgação)

Recognized for its architectural value and listed by the Rio World Heritage Institute, the building represents a period in which modernism redefined the landscape of downtown Rio, introducing new construction and spatial solutions.

Ruy Rezende's retrofit project

The requalification project was developed by the firm Ruy Rezende Arquitetura (RRA), in collaboration with AORO Arquitetura e Urbanismo. The proposal started from a common challenge for historic buildings: adapting a construction designed for another era to contemporary needs, while respecting its original features.

(Reprodução/TV Globo/Divulgação)

Unlike a conventional renovation, the architectural retrofit involves a more comprehensive modernization, which may include infrastructure, installations, environmental performance and the reorganization of the projects. At Aliança da Bahia, the intervention aimed to extend the useful life of the building and expand its occupancy possibilities.

Ruy Rezende followed the development of the project until his death, in December 2024. The works were completed in 2025, after approximately two and a half years of interventions, consolidating one of the last works of his professional career.

Preservation of the façades and transformation of the interiors

One of the main concerns of the intervention was to preserve the modernist identity of the building. The façades, marked by the combination of glass, metal elements and fine finishes, remained fundamental references of the original design.

Homenagem a Ruy Rezende - Recepção | Bilheteria. Projeto da CASACOR Rio de Janeiro 2026. (André Nazareth/Divulgação)

Internally, however, the organization of the spaces underwent important changes. The floors, previously compartmentalized into several rooms, were transformed into larger and more integrated slabs, following the open space concept.

This configuration allows different occupation possibilities and favors the flexibility of the projects. Thus, the existing structure gained conditions to meet new demands, without the need to decharacterize the most representative architectural elements of the complex.

Technology and new uses for a historic building

The modernization process also incorporated contemporary planning tools. Among them, BIM (Building Information Modeling) modeling, used to understand the conditions of the building and make the new solutions compatible with its existing structure.

(Reprodução/Prefeitura RJ/Divulgação)

Another element foreseen in the requalification was the creation of a rooftop intended for socializing and gastronomy, taking advantage of the privileged location and the views of the architectural landscape of Downtown Rio.

More than recovering a property, these interventions demonstrate how retrofit can contribute to urban sustainability. The reuse of existing structures helps reduce the need for new constructions and values the heritage already incorporated into the city.

Ruy Rezende's legacy for contemporary architecture

Throughout his career, Ruy Rezende developed projects linked to corporate architecture, sustainability and the transformation of urban spaces. Among his main works is Parque Madureira, also in Rio de Janeiro, which exemplifies his work in projects aimed at the qualification of the city.

(Reprodução/Prefeitura RJ/Divulgação)

At the Aliança da Bahia Building, this thinking appears in the ability to reconcile past and future. Instead of replacing a historic construction, the project recognized its qualities and found solutions to maintain its relevance.

The result highlights one of the most important contributions of retrofit: the possibility of renewing architecture without erasing its memory, allowing buildings from different eras to continue being part of contemporary life.

This text was developed with the help of CASACOR Publisher, an exclusive content agent developed by the CASACOR Technology team based on the knowledge base of casacor.com.br. The generated content was subsequently edited by Yeska Coelho.