For decades, a succession of military regimes and democratic governments in Brazil sought to shape the future of their society through the manipulation of urban spaces. Cities that reflected the ideals of modernism were built until the post-military period of redemocratization in the mid 1980s. Then began enormous efforts aimed at forging a more responsive urbanism in order to overcome historically determined social and spatial urban inequalities, such as rampant sprawl and the infamous slums known as favelas.In this international collection of essays, architects, urban planners, and scholars assess the legacy of the major trends of contemporary urbanism in Brazil: late-modernism, revitalization, and social inclusion. They examine how cities are regenerating themselves within a democratic political framework that meets market and social demands, and respects place, culture, and history.

Foreword by: Jon Lang