ABSTRACT
This paper addresses the first large scale urban design project for the preservation and revitalization of a historic district in downtown Rio de Janeiro, implemented by the city authorities. Initiated in 1979, a time when the planning of transit corridors was so fashionable, the Projeto Corredor Cultural started to become a reality when a local smallbusiness community united with city planning officials to fight gentrification pressures. Once politically convinced, the city government approved specific mandatory regulations and tax deductions, enforcing preservation and renewal design guidelines for the district, and started a special office where architects could help the community follow a "how to" guidelines manual. The continuous success of the original experience encouraged the city to expand the district, including most of the historic fabric downtown, and to implement several projects for the public realm, such as new circulation patterns for vehicles and street furniture. These plans and regulations together with the preservation climate which has been created, has encouraged the semi-public and private sectors to recycle old buildings for new uses and several new small businesses were started. Preservation and revitalization objectives have been successfully reached over a period of almost twelve years.
