The historic buildings surrounding CASACOR Rio 2026 reveal the architectural evolution of Downtown and the richness of the memories that run through its streets
Submitted at Oct 26, 2026, 7:04 PM
Maurício Nóbrega Arquitetura - Bolhas Bar de Champagne. Projeto da CASACOR Rio de Janeiro 2026. (André Nazareth/CASACOR)
CASACOR Rio 2026 is surrounded by some of Rio de Janeiro's main architectural landmarks. Held at the Aliança na Bahia Building, a simple lunch at Astrodome Bistrô or a drink at Bar do 19, both located on the show's rooftop, can offer a privileged tour through the city's historic center.
Beyond the panoramic view from the 15th floor, it is possible to learn a bit about the history of the buildings surrounding CASACOR Rio 2026 thanks to four large panels that make up the exhibition Rio Entre Tempos. Presented by Galeria Rio Memórias, the proposal establishes a visual reading of the urban and architectural transformations of downtown Rio.
Painel da exposição Rio Entre Tempos na CASACOR Rio 2026. (Milena Garcia/CASACOR)
Directly related to the landscape observed from the building, the exhibition highlights the most emblematic constructions of the region and reinforces the idea that the city is an organism in constant transformation. From the panels on the rooftop, visitors are invited to identify some of these buildings in the downtown skyline with their own eyes. The experience continues with the complete exhibition on the 7th floor of the show.
"These buildings reflect important phases of the political, economic, and social history of our city and our country. They are distinct architectural approaches applied to our public and private buildings, which succeed one another or coexist, sometimes antagonistically," comments Joaquim Marçal, curator of the exhibition.
Painel da exposição Rio Entre Tempos na CASACOR Rio 2026. (Milena Garcia/CASACOR)
Below, some of the architectural landmarks that surround CASACOR Rio 2026 and reveal new perspectives on the city's history.
Built between 1937 and 1945 to house the then Ministry of Education and Public Health, the Gustavo Capanema Palace is one of the landmarks of Brazilian modernist architecture. The project was coordinated by Lúcio Costa, with the participation of Oscar Niemeyer, Affonso Eduardo Reidy, Carlos Leão, Jorge Moreira, and Ernani Vasconcelos, in addition to the consultancy of the Franco-Swiss architect Le Corbusier. Among its main features are the pilotis, the free facade, the horizontal windows, and the garden terrace, designed by Roberto Burle Marx. The building also integrates architecture and visual arts through the panels by Cândido Portinari and the sculptures by Bruno Giorgi, among other works. Listed by Iphan in 1948, it underwent a broad restoration process completed in 2025.
Palácio Gustavo Capanema (Henrique Liberal/Wikimedia Commons/CASACOR)
Inaugurated in 1909, the Municipal Theatre of Rio de Janeiro emerged in the context of the urban reforms led by Mayor Pereira Passos, which sought to modernize the then federal capital. Its project resulted from the combination of proposals by architects Francisco de Oliveira Passos and Albert Guilbert, inspired by the Opéra Garnier in Paris. The construction brings together references from eclectic architecture and the European academic tradition, with a monumental facade and richly ornamented interiors. For the interiors, artists such as Eliseu Visconti, Rodolfo Amoedo, and the Bernardelli brothers were called in, in addition to artisans responsible for stained glass and mosaics. Throughout its history, the theater has become one of the main cultural institutions in the country and currently maintains its own symphony orchestra, choir, and ballet company.
Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro (一井 潤一 -/Wikimedi Commons/CASACOR)
Inaugurated in 1938, the building of the Associação Brasileira de Imprensa (ABI) was conceived to house the entity founded in 1908, which until then operated in rented spaces. The winning project of a competition organized by the association's president, Herbert Moses, was developed by the brothers Marcelo and Milton Roberto and became a landmark of modern architecture in Rio de Janeiro. Its facade is marked by vertical concrete brises-soleil, elements that filter sunlight and contribute to the thermal comfort of the projects. The building also incorporates modernist principles such as independent structure, free facade, free plan, and roof garden. Known as the Casa do Jornalista (Journalist's House), the space consolidated itself as a meeting point for the press and important manifestations of Brazilian public life.
Edifício da ABI (CASACOR)
The history of the National Library is linked to the transfer of the Portuguese court to Brazil in 1808, when a significant part of the royal collection arrived in Rio de Janeiro. Officially created in 1810, the institution went through different headquarters until occupying, in 1910, the monumental building on Avenida Central, now Avenida Rio Branco. Designed by engineer and general Francisco Marcelino de Souza Aguiar, the construction is an example of eclectic architecture, with neoclassical and art nouveau elements. The metal structure and internal organization were planned to accommodate a large-scale collection, including books, manuscripts, maps, prints, and other historical documents. Listed by Iphan in 1972, the building remains one of the main cultural references in the country, both for its architecture and for the importance of its collection to Brazilian memory.
Biblioteca Nacional: Uma das maiores bibliotecas da América Latina, instalada em um edifício monumental no Centro do Rio. (Halleypo/Wikimedia Commons/CASACOR)
Seat of the Rio de Janeiro City Council, the Pedro Ernesto Palace was inaugurated on July 21, 1923, in Cinelândia, amid the urban transformations that redefined the city center in the early 20th century. The project was conceived by architect Heitor de Mello and, after his death, developed by the firm under the leadership of Archimedes Memória and Francisque Cuchet. Its eclectic architecture combines neoclassical references, noticeable in the monumental composition and ornamental elements. The interiors preserve marble staircases, period furniture, the English Room, clad in wood, and an artistic collection that includes paintings and sculptures of historical value. The building also holds an important place in Rio's political history, having been the stage for public demonstrations and events linked to the country's democratic life. Its current name honors Pedro Ernesto, a physician and former mayor of Rio.
Palácio Pedro Ernesto (CASACOR)
Built between 1936 and 1938, during the government of Getúlio Vargas, the Labor Palace was designed to house the Ministry of Labor, Industry and Commerce, created in 1930. Conceived by architect Mário dos Santos Maia, the building is part of the set of large administrative constructions established in the central region of Rio de Janeiro after the dismantling of Morro do Castelo. Its architecture is representative of the Estado Novo period and the construction of a monumental image for public institutions. The H-shaped plan organizes four wings for the departments, connected by service areas, reconciling the imposing scale of the complex with the ministry's functional needs. Listed by the State Institute of Cultural Heritage (Inepac) in 1998, the building currently houses the Minister Arnaldo Süssekind Forum, of the Labor Court of the 1st Region.
Palácio do Trabalho (CASACOR)
Completed in 1943, the Treasury Palace was built to house the headquarters of the Ministry of Finance in Rio de Janeiro, then the federal capital. The cornerstone was laid in 1938, during the tenure of Minister Artur de Souza Costa, and the executed project was coordinated by engineer Ary Fontoura de Azambuja. Unlike the modernist language adopted in the neighboring Gustavo Capanema Palace, the building has a neoclassical inspiration, with a monumental composition, a white marble portico, and Doric columns reminiscent of the temples of Ancient Greece. Its presence is part of the group of ministerial headquarters built in the region during the Vargas Era. After the transfer of the capital to Brasília, the palace began to house regional bodies of the treasury administration, as well as the Federal Treasury Museum and a library specialized in economics.
Palácio da Fazenda (CASACOR)
