Fictitious Foundations of the Penitentiary City

Metaphors and Prison Reform Projects in the Vargas Era (Rio de Janeiro, 1930-1945)

Abstract

In 1937, a prison reform project called Cidade Penitenciária do Rio de Janeiro was published for the then capital of Brazil. From the architectural point of view, the “prison city” did not present significant differences from other prisons of the time. Nor was it presented as a kind of urbanization project. The proposal of its author, the architect Adelardo Caiuby, drew on his experience as the creator of the Model Leprosarium of São Paulo (1918), whose main idea was to allow long-time inmates in the hospital to lead a life similar to the one they had out of isolation. In theory, Caiuby tried to transfer this idea to the penitentiary sphere, although he did it with a traditional architectural prison design. In the article, we delve into the meanings of the metaphor of the city that some state agents deemed adequate to solve the problems of incarceration. What were prison conditions like in the Federal District in 1930? Who were the agents in charge of seeking solutions? What experiences did they have? What was the specific operating proposal for this city? How did it differ from other existing prisons? These are some of the questions raised in the article. It different from other existing prisons? These are some of the questions that guide this work.