“Arquitetura Hoje!” series travels across Brazil to uncover architectural heritage
- Regina Campos
- Feb 12
- 2 min read
The Arte1 channel premieres the series Arquitetura Hoje! this Thursday (February 13) at 8:30 PM. This original production highlights ancestral knowledge and technologies developed by Afro-Brazilian culture, which influence the ways of producing and understanding Brazilian architecture.
Architect and researcher Gabriela de Matos, the project’s creator and host, traveled across Brazil to present examples and reflect on this legacy. The series is produced by Na Laje Filmes.
“We visited Bahia, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo to show how architecture is conceived in different ways according to the cultural characteristics of each territory—and how that impacts people’s daily lives and connects to both global and local debates, including those about climate,” says Gabriela.
The production invites viewers on a rich journey that celebrates diversity through the connection between contemporary Afro-Brazilian architecture, urbanism, and culture. For Gabriela, it’s an opportunity for immersion in new perspectives, places, and stunning visuals.
Director Pedro Urizzi emphasizes the choice to build a narrative in motion, just as Black architecture shapes the world:
“By prioritizing orality and active listening, we aimed to translate into image and sound the idea that to inhabit is a collective act—in both physical and cinematic spaces.”
In practice, each of the five episodes unfolds in a continuous flow, with a language shaped by the theme.
“Arte1’s editorial line allows us to subvert rigidity and formalism in favor of magic,” says Urizzi.
At a time when Brazilian audiovisual is in the spotlight, Regina Campos, founder of Na Laje Filmes, celebrates the opportunity:
“Creating a documentary series that rescues the history of Black architecture in Brazil reinforces the importance of believing in and investing in national productions.”
In the premiere, Gabriela visits Salvador, exploring how intangible African cultural symbols relate to architecture and urban planning in Brazil. Interviews include architect and professor Fabio Velame, and architect-researcher Vilma Patrícia. The episode also features a visit to the Filhos de Ghandy and a statement from director Xiko Lima.
Arquitetura Hoje! includes five episodes, airing every Thursday on Arte1, with the following additional time slots:
February 15 at 10 PM
February 17 at 6 PM
February 20 at 12 PM.
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