CASACOR Architecture and Urbanism Forum discusses Downtown Rio and urban transformations

The 1st CASACOR Architecture and Urbanism Forum in Rio de Janeiro brought together representatives from the public sector, private initiative, and architecture to discuss paths for the future of Brazilian cities. Throughout the day, five panels addressed topics such as the regeneration of Downtown Rio, environmental urbanism, and urban legislation.

With free admission, the event – an initiative by CASACOR, which already held an edition in São Paulo – took place at an emblematic address in the city: the Gustavo Capanema Palace, a landmark of modern Brazilian architecture designed by a team that included names such as Lúcio Costa, Carlos Leão, and Oscar Niemeyer. The choice of venue also created a direct connection with CASACOR Rio 2026, running until November 8 at Aliança da Bahia, across from the building.

Discussions on the challenges of regenerating Downtown opened the day

The revitalization of Downtown Rio opened the forum's discussions. Moderated by Thaís Lauton, Content Director at CASACOR and Editor-in-Chief of Casa e Jardim, the first panel gathered reflections on retrofit, reuse, heritage, housing, and mixed use of central areas, with Downtown itself and the Reviver Centro project as concrete references.

Fórum de Arquitetura e Urbanismo CASACOR. (Marcio Ferreira/CASACOR)

For Miguel Pinto Guimarães, head of MPG Arquitetura and co-founder of OPY Soluções Urbanas, one of the keys to working with retrofit lies in listening to what the buildings have to say. "The technical part is harder, but the creative part is easy. Because that building whispers what it expects for itself."

The debate also touched on the relationship between urban occupation and safety. According to architect and urban planner Washington Fajardo, the perception of insecurity in the central region does not always match reality. He added: "The future of Downtown Rio lies with women, because they have a very fine perception of the city's safety."

Fórum de Arquitetura e Urbanismo CASACOR. (Marcio Ferreira/CASACOR)

Celso Rayol, architect from the CASACOR Rio 2026 lineup, brought conservation and transformation together by highlighting the importance of understanding the city through its current demands. "We need to walk through the city (...) That way, we understand its new uses and are able to combine them with architecture."

The topic gained new layers on housing and urban life

The second panel kept Downtown Rio as its axis but expanded the discussion to housing, work, mobility, and commerce conditions. Also moderated by Thaís Lauton, the conversation showed that regenerating a central region involves much more than restoring facades or reoccupying buildings.

Fórum de Arquitetura e Urbanismo CASACOR. (Marcio Ferreira/CASACOR)

Alexandre Pessoa, director of FAU-UFRJ, revisited the history of the city's urban occupation, tied to port commercial activity, to reflect on its lessons. "The historical process brought us here, but we don't need to keep repeating the mistakes that happened," he proposed.

For architect and founding partner of RAF Arquitetura, Aníbal Sabrosa, understanding the different characteristics that form Downtown is essential so the real estate market can respond to diverse audiences and demands. "The market has to identify each region and understand the type of product for it. Of course, it has to be profitable, right? Otherwise, the market won't build."

Fórum de Arquitetura e Urbanismo CASACOR. (Marcio Ferreira/CASACOR)

Meanwhile, the president of CAU/RJ, Sydnei Menezes, highlighted the transformations in the relationship between professionals and the central region and the current moment of its reoccupation. "Today we are experiencing, without realizing it, a historic change from the point of view of the reoccupation of downtown Rio. And this is happening with a generation that is absolutely mature in terms of professional qualifications," he concluded.

Memory and heritage guided the third panel

Urban transformation also involves memory, identity and belonging — the central theme of the third panel of the CASACOR Architecture and Urbanism Forum, moderated by Darlan Firmato, Operations Director of CASACOR São Paulo. The conversation proposed broadening the understanding of preservation, not only as conservation, but also as an active part of the transformation processes of cities.

Fórum de Arquitetura e Urbanismo CASACOR. (Marcio Ferreira/CASACOR)

Among the participants was Lucas Padilha, municipal secretary of Culture of Rio de Janeiro, who highlighted the historical symbolism of the Gustavo Capanema Palace and the importance of CASACOR Rio's presence in the region. "Memory without a future is nostalgia and a future without memory is improvisation. The role of cultural policy is to connect action, programming, institutions and artistic events on a platform of use," he argued.

Along the same lines, Marlova Noleto, director and representative of UNESCO in Brazil, reinforced the idea of a heritage capable of remaining alive over time. "I always like to remember that preserving material heritage is not freezing it in time, but ensuring the conditions for it to continue alive, be transmitted and be able to transform along with communities."

Eduardo Vettorazzi, founder of City Zine, brought collective responsibility to the discussion about urban identity. "The architect is the one who organizes, the government regulates, but it is the people who shape the spaces."

Fórum de Arquitetura e Urbanismo CASACOR. (Marcio Ferreira/CASACOR)

The panel ended with a look toward the future and new forms of occupation of urban centers. Marcus Damon, founding partner and creative director of Estúdio Módulo, contributed: "I notice that the new generations have greater optimism about the occupation of Downtown, both in Rio and in São Paulo. People are more willing to experience Downtown in a different way and overcome some prejudices that previous generations had."

Extreme events placed urban resilience at the center of the discussion

The fourth panel broadened the scale of the discussion by addressing the effects of extreme climate events and the role of urbanism in building more resilient cities. Afforestation, shade, drainage and nature-based solutions were among the topics discussed by the guests.

Fórum de Arquitetura e Urbanismo CASACOR. (Marcio Ferreira/CASACOR)

Moderated by Miguel Pinto Guimarães, the conversation had as one of its main references the floods that hit Rio Grande do Sul in 2024. "This episode showed that we are part of the system; the city's system is not there for us," stated Luciana Fonseca, partner at OSPA and founder of the Responsive Cities Institute.

Climate justice also appeared as an essential point for thinking about environmental urbanism. Juliana Baladelli Ribeiro, biologist and projects manager at the Grupo Boticário Foundation, highlighted the role of nature in responding to urban challenges: "Cities having nature as part of the solution, both for drainage and for urban cooling, benefits everyone – especially those who have no other option."

Fórum de Arquitetura e Urbanismo CASACOR (Marcio Ferreira/CASACOR)

As regional director of C40 for Latin America, Ilan Cuperstein brought examples of urban resilience in cities such as Curitiba, Medellín and Buenos Aires, in addition to the rain gardensof São Paulo and the heat monitoring in Rio de Janeiro. "Rio currently has the most advanced heat wave monitoring in Latin America, this is something that several cities want to replicate," he highlights.

Legislation and planning closed the forum with a focus on urban transformation

The fifth and final panel of the CASACOR Architecture and Urbanism Forum brought together some of the themes that ran through the meeting and directed the focus to urban legislation and the conditions necessary to transform the existing city. Moderated by Rafael Galdo, editor of Rio at O Globo newspaper, the debate brought together perspectives from the public sector, the market, and other agents involved in this process.

Fórum de Arquitetura e Urbanismo CASACOR. (Marcio Ferreira/CASACOR)

Returning to the revitalization of downtown Rio, Osmar Lima, Municipal Secretary of Economic Development of Rio de Janeiro, highlighted the challenges of creating policies capable of sustaining themselves in the long term. "You have to build a lasting public policy, but you need to have the financing, the market, society, and a long-term vision – otherwise we stop halfway and produce problems that later become more difficult to solve."

Leonardo Mesquita, executive co-president of Cury Construtora, added to the debate the perspective of the private sector and the relationship between demand and viability of new developments. "It's not the developer who will change society, it's demand (...) This is the market, but if we find an equation where the volume of people who want to live downtown is feasible and their incomes are feasible, you can be sure: production will start absurdly."

Fórum de Arquitetura e Urbanismo CASACOR. (Marcio Ferreira/CASACOR)

Tomas Alvim, co-founder of BEĨ Editora, brought legislation and heritage preservation to the center of this balance between public and private interests. "We need to respect regulation and adjust what is not being addressed. On the other end, the construction sector also needs to have an eye on this heritage, care for the project," he concludes.

By bringing together professionals from architecture, urbanism, public management, market, and environment, the event showed how the challenges of cities require readings built from different areas and perspectives. The CASACOR Architecture and Urbanism Forum was produced by CASACOR, CBN, and Editora Globo, sponsored by Cury Construtora and with institutional support from Ademi RJ.