An elevator in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazilian architecture firm, JBMC Arquitetura & Urbanismo has designed an elevator infrastructure to give the disadvantaged residents of Cantagalo Rio de Janeiro access to public transport.

Despite its iconic appearance, this project aims to minimise social and environmental impact; in actual fact, the Rubem Braga Elevator Complex by Brazilian firm, JBMC Arquitetura & Urbanismo adds the right balance to its setting. The goal of this piece of architecture is to make it easier for residents to use public transport.





A pedestrian bridge connects the two towers containing the elevators and the stairways. The hillside has been reinforced with retaining walls and the whole complex includes a public plaza, so that the project is not just limited to infrastructure but also provides a great viewing platform over the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana. This is real architecture for the community.



Not just a tourist attraction in the run-up to the 2014 world soccer cup but a tangible step towards improving liveability in this part of the Brazilian megalopolis, by giving it access to the city’s transport network.

Project: JBMC Arquitetura e Urbanismo, http://www.jbmc.com.br
Location: Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Year: 2011
Photography: (c) Celso Brando, (c) Acervo JBMC - all images courtesy of JBMC