Urbanization trends and retrofit strategies in Brazil

Brazil is experiencing significant urbanization, with the current urban population exceeding 84%. Projections from the United Nations suggest this figure could rise to over 93% by 2050. This growth is driven by factors such as industrialization and the modernization of rural areas, which often leads to land concentration and the replacement of human labor with agricultural machinery.

In response to changing urban demands, the real estate market is increasingly adopting 'retrofit' strategies to modernize existing buildings. This process adapts older structures to meet contemporary standards of comfort, safety, and use, allowing for the revitalization of consolidated central areas without requiring new construction.

In Brasília, the company CONBRAL is implementing this strategy in the 502 Sul area. The project involves transforming an existing building into compact residential units of 30 m² and 48 m² to meet the growing demand for housing located near commerce, services, and transport infrastructure.