Barra da Tijuca

Welcome to Barra da Tijuca, the sprawling modern face of Rio de Janeiro. Often referred to simply as 'Barra,' this neighborhood represents a significant departure from the classic, dense urbanism of the South Zone neighborhoods…

To understand Barra da Tijuca, one must understand the vision of Lucio Costa. Commissioned in the late 1960s by the Governor of Guanabara, Costa’s plan for Barra was a masterpiece of modernist thinking. …

We now step onto the Praia da Barra, a magnificent eighteen-kilometer stretch that is the heart and soul of the neighborhood. Because of its sheer size, the beach is divided into 'Postos' or lifeguard stations, each with its own…

Parallel to the coastline lies another world entirely: the Marapendi Lagoon and its surrounding protected area. This is part of the Marapendi Ecological Reserve, created to preserve the sensitive mangrove and 'restringa'…

In the middle of one of Barra's busiest intersections stands the 'Cidade das Artes,' or City of Arts. Designed by the renowned French architect Christian de Portzamparc and inaugurated in 2013, this is one of Rio's most ambitious…

No visit to Barra is complete without acknowledging the role of the shopping mall in its social fabric, and 'Barra Shopping' is the undisputed king of these spaces. Opened in 1981, it has expanded over the decades to become one…

To experience a different, more grounded side of Barra, we head to the Jardim Oceanico sub-district and its main artery, the Avenida Olegario Maciel. This area is unique in Barra because it features low-rise buildings and a more…

As we conclude our tour of Barra da Tijuca, we are left with a complex picture of what a modern city can be. This neighborhood is a bold experiment in urbanism, a place that traded the historical density of Rio’s center for the…