Realengo Park Market Square: Community-Driven Design in Rio
In Rio de Janeiro, the Praça do Mercado in Parque Realengo developed from a pre-existing informal market before any official design was initiated. The initiative was spearheaded by Juliana Ayako, a recipient of the ArchDaily 2025 Next Practices Awards, alongside collaborators Carlos Zebulun, Helena Meirelles, Larissa Monteiro, Rodrigo Messina, and Francisco Rivas. Following a public competition held by the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro in 2023, Ecomimesis Soluções Ecológicas took charge of project management, urban planning, and landscape design. The square maintains the area’s organic social and commercial dynamics, seamlessly incorporating them into a lasting architectural structure.
Key facts
- Praça do Mercado is located in Parque Realengo, Rio de Janeiro.
- The site was already active with informal stalls and gatherings before design began.
- Juliana Ayako won the ArchDaily 2025 Next Practices Awards.
- The project team includes Carlos Zebulun, Helena Meirelles, Larissa Monteiro, Rodrigo Messina, and Francisco Rivas.
- Ecomimesis Soluções Ecológicas won the public competition in 2023.
- The competition was organized by the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro.
- The square integrates informal market activity into permanent architecture.
- The project was published on ArchDaily on May 14, 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Juliana Ayako
- Carlos Zebulun
- Helena Meirelles
- Larissa Monteiro
- Rodrigo Messina
- Francisco Rivas
Institutions
- ArchDaily
- Ecomimesis Soluções Ecológicas
- Municipality of Rio de Janeiro
Locations
- Praça do Mercado
- Parque Realengo
- Rio de Janeiro
- Brazil