Last year, a milestone in the urban reform of Center of Rio completed 130 years of demolition. The legendary tenement “Pig’s head” provided space for the works of the Tunnel John Ricardoconnecting the Central Brazil The Gamboa. The event, at the time, attracted a crowd, who followed the destruction of one of Rio’s largest and most iconic tenement buildings, led by the then mayor Cockroach Ribeiro.
Buildings, such as “Cabeça de Porco”, were pillars of popular housing in Rio. In the 19th century, they housed free, freed and even enslaved workers, offering a home close to their workplaces in the heart of the city. They were vibrant communities, like small neighborhoods within the Center, with their own social and cultural dynamics.
However, over time, the tenements became targets of attention from the authorities. Epidemics and public health concerns have led to restrictive measures and large-scale demolitions as part of urban reforms. Pereira Passos at the beginning of the 20th century.
Despite the transformations, some tenements have stood the test of time. According to a survey by the Observatory of the Metropolises in partnership with the Popular Movements Centerthere are still 155 of these homes in the central area of Rio. Distributed across several neighborhoods, such as Saint Christ, Gamboa, center, Lapa, Santa Teresa, Saint Christ, Catumbi, Long River It is Catete they are home to more than 2,600 people.
Many of those evicted from “Cabeça de Porco”, for example, found refuge in another popular house, in Senador Pompeu Streetnext to Central Brazil, which is still standing, keeping the city’s memory alive and listed as Carioca Cultural Heritage. The space received a major revitalization by City Hall in 2016, including painting and upgrading the property complex.
The demand for homes like these remains high, due to the proximity to points of interest in the city and the availability of abandoned historic properties. However, the lack of regulation and precarious living conditions continue to be urgent challenges to be faced.
Another emblematic example is the “Cry Vinegar”at Invalides Street. With 69 rooms spread over two floors, this 19th century tenement keeps the architecture and atmosphere of the time alive. Listed as a Municipal Heritage Site, the open courtyard still has remnants of the pebble flooring from the end of the 19th century.
Of all the tenements surveyed, only eight offer a bathroom in the room. The vast majority have shared bathrooms and no kitchens, even communal ones. More than 60% of tenements do not have any type of contract between landlord and tenant and 38% of residents pay rent between R$500 and 800 reais.
Urban and social invisibility is a striking feature in the history of tenement buildings in Rio, representing an essential aspect for understanding the experiences and challenges faced by the people who inhabit these urban spaces.
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