the periphery at the center: a new perspective on são joão de meriti

Abstract

In the dynamics of the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro, the periphery is situated within a scenario of economic, cultural, and political dependence on the hegemonic center. This interpretation suggests that urban practices often result in the current center-periphery structure as a response, which frequently materializes through the idea of metropolitan mobility via infrastructure construction. The imbalance inherent in the center-periphery structure leads to the formulation of new methodological and projective hypotheses. The project “Periphery at the Center” (Periferia no centro) presents a possible stance within this context, advocating for the development of sub-centralities. By strategically inserting housing/work buildings, it produces programmatic diversity and fosters public, collective, and free spaces as tools for social articulation.