Essay on the Genesis of the Verticalization Process of the City of Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

The article examines the initial process of verticalization in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which took place in the early decades of the 20th century, mainly in coastal and residential areas. By the late 1930s, the modern standard of the Rio de Janeiro apartment Building – intended as collective housing for the middle and upper classes– had emerged through a complex transformation from the collective dwellings of the 19th century. This new way of living reflected social and economic changes and was closely linked to cosmopolitan ideals and a seaside lifestyle. The upper-class residents of Flamengo maintained French habits, while the middle class adopted American values of practicality and efficiency, particularly in Copacabana, where they sought social mobility. The comparative study of the verticalization processes that took place in both neighborhoods, along with the analysis of their apartment building designs from the same period, reveals differences that reflect the historical and social specificities of each area, resulting in distinct architectural responses.