Rio de Janeiro is not known as the Wonderful City by chance. Its exuberant natural landscapes are already Brazil’s most famous picture postcards, but this year, architecture will take center stage with Unesco and the International Union of Architects (UIA) making Rio 2020’s World Capital of Architecture. Now, amid a global debate on urban planning, the Wonderful City will have a chance to examine its own challenges and look for solutions.
Throughout the year, Rio de Janeiro will be hosting a series of events about architecture and urbanism under the theme “All the worlds. Just one world,” culminating in the 27th UIA World Congress in July. This will be the first time Brazil hosts the event, which is set to gather at least 15,000 professionals from around the world. According to Nivaldo Andrade, president of the Brazilian Institute of Architects (IAB), which is organizing the UIA 2020 RIO Congress, Rio’s architecture was thrust into the spotlight since day one of 2020.
“The New Year Eve ceremony in Copacabana highlighted the city’s architecture, some samba schools will hold parades in its honor during Carnival. From March to June, more than 40 cultural institutions will have exhibitions about the city and its architecture. The Congress itself will have a direct connection to the city, happening in several spaces around Rio, so people may freely circulate and walk around,” he told The Brazilian Report.
Beyond the official schedule, Rio’s municipal government opened registrations for cultural producers interested in making parallel projects in the north and west areas of the city, as well as the theaters known as Lonas Culturais and Arenas Cariocas. The approved initiatives will receive institutional backing, being allowed to use the brand of Rio 2020 and the UIA Congress, as well as a support letter to help them receive funding, according to info provided by the Rio city council.
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