FaveladoLargodaMemória

Leblon is one of the most expensive pieces of real estate in the country. But the area was considered suburban until the first decades of the 20th century, and its occupation was carried out by favela communities, such as that of Largo da Memória. The community occupied an extensive strip of swampy land between Gávea and Leblon, in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, originating from an old access point to the beach near Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. Its location corresponds to the current 23rd Military Police Battalion (BPM).

Its formation is linked to the urbanization process of the region starting in the 1930s, especially the construction work on the Jardim de Alah canal and the expansion of the tram lines toward Gávea. This context attracted workers — many of them migrants — who sought proximity to jobs in construction, domestic service, and local commerce.

Image description: This is a black and white photograph of a favela located in Largo da Memória. On the left side, we see several small wooden houses grouped together, with sloped roofs. As we move to the right, we notice more houses and some people walking or working in the green areas in front of the houses. In the background, there is a mountain covered with dense vegetation. At the bottom of the image, we see a man walking along a stone sidewalk.

Largo da Memória was not an isolated cluster: it was part of a network connected to other neighboring favelas, such as Praia do Pinto and the so-called Cidade Maravilhosa, forming a web of working-class settlements along the Lagoa shoreline. From a geographical standpoint, it was a horizontal settlement, adapted to the flat, flood-prone terrain that was typical of the favelas around the Lagoa. The dwellings were predominantly shacks made of wood, zinc, and other makeshift materials, with little urban infrastructure.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a foundation stone-laying ceremony. The image shows three men in formal attire, including a suit and a hat, positioned on the right. They are holding a red ribbon, which appears to be part of the laying ritual. On the left, there is a wooden structure with a lit fire, where the symbolic act is being carried out. The background features a building under construction, with beams and roof tiles visible.

In the 1940s-1960s, favela-eradication policies in Rio intensified, targeting settlements considered breeding grounds of unhealthiness. The administration of Mayor Henrique de Toledo Dodsworth began that cycle of forced removals, in which the mayor himself took the initiative of setting favelas on fire, such as that of Largo da Memória, in May 1942.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a favela. On the left side, there is a large palm tree, while in the center and on the right stand two small wooden buildings with sloped roofs. The buildings have simple doors and windows, and one of the buildings displays a sign with light-colored lettering. On the ground, around the buildings, there are pieces of wood and other debris. The sky is dark and overcast, suggesting a cloudy day or the aftermath of a storm.

The residents of the Largo da Memória favela were mainly relocated to shacks near the construction site of the Parque Proletário da Gávea. Another group of residents settled in the Praia do Pinto favela, which was also the victim of a fire — one that, all evidence suggests, was arson — in the 1960s.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a favela. On the left side, there is a large, low building with several windows and wooden staircases. In front of it are piles of wood and a few workers. In the center, there is a row of small wooden houses, some with sloped roofs. In the background, there is a hill with vegetation and more buildings. On the right, there is an urban area with taller buildings.