One of the most filmed and famous housing complex in Brazil is the Conjunto Residencial Prefeito Mendes de Moraes (Major Mendes de Moraes Housing Complex), nicknamed Pedregulho, located in Benfica neighbourhood, Rio de Janeiro city.
Despite being far from the beach and touristic spots like Copacabana and Christ the Redeemer, in the last time I travelled to Rio, my wife and I decided to visit it. It is located near the Municipal Market CADEG, with many restaurants and food stores. Walking from there we reach the elementary school called Edmundo Bittencourt (Instagram @edmundo_bittencourt).
Located at the base of the hill, this school is part of the Pedregulho housing complex original project, inaugurated in 1952. A giant tile panel, created by the famous Brazilian artist Candido Portinari, decorated the indoor sports gymnasium wall. Going up by the side street we reach the residential entrance.
The access is resticted only to people who lives there, the building is not open to tourists but we met one of the residents that work in the administration and he allowed us to visit the public areas.
The views are really great, both the nature, landscape and the architecture. The building is really a master piece of Brazilian modernism and social housing projects from the last century, when urbanists and architects dreamed to gather housing, public services and leisure all close togheter. I found this article - Modern Again: Tradition and Modernity in the Pedregulho Housing Complex in Rio de Janeiro - for anyone interested in know more about the project.
Many thanks! Keep safe and good luck again!
