Revive the Center

With Eduardo Paes (Mayor of Rio de Janeiro and president of the National Front of Mayors), Alê Youssef (former Secretary of Culture of São Paulo), Marta Moreira (partner at MMBB). Mediated by Raquel Schenkman (president of IABsp)

Given the need to fulfill an agenda dedicated to climate action and sustainable development goals, the panel aims to present programs and projects being implemented in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo and currently on display at this 14th International Architecture Biennial. Under the theme "reviving the center," these initiatives seek to activate existing spaces and care for the people and public who daily experience these spaces in central areas. The presented projects focus on proposing urban recovery and the recovery of existing structures that were closed, ensuring their restoration, transformation, or "retrofit," and urban reinsertion. Joint action and collaboration between public authorities, the business sector, and architecture and urban planning are essential to implementing successful projects.

The panel's guests will include the president of the National Front of Mayors (an organization representing more than 415 cities), Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes, elected for the 2025-2027 term. He will meet with former São Paulo Secretary of Culture and cultural producer Alê Youssef, one of the people responsible for the recently inaugurated Galeria Formosa restoration project under the Chá viaduct, and architect Marta Moreira, partner at the MMBB architecture firm, winner of the recent competition to repurpose the former Mapping building in downtown São Paulo for Sesc Galeria, a competition promoted by Sesc and organized by IAB-SP. The panel will be moderated by IAB-SP president Raquel Schenkman.

Free

Registration:

Registrations must be made here.
Registration will be open until the start of the activity, on site, as long as there are spaces available.

We thank everyone who participated and visited the 14th São Paulo International Architecture Biennial, from September 18 to October 19, 2025

NOTE OF CONDOLENCE

With deep sorrow, the Brazilian Institute of Architects – São Paulo Department (IABsp) mourns the passing of architect and landscape architect Kongjian Yu, a global leader in ecological urbanism, and the members of his team who accompanied him, tragically killed during the filming of a documentary. The institute is honored to have had him as a participant in the 14th São Paulo International Architecture Biennial, where his transformative vision strengthened the dialogue between global challenges and local realities. IABsp emphasizes that Yu's contribution, which transcends borders, will remain an inspiration for generations and expresses its condolences to China, to the families of all the deceased, to his friends, and to all those impacted by his genius and dedication. Read the full note here.