Documentary series 'Arquitetura Hoje!' premieres this week on Arte1

Produced by Na Laje Filmes, directed by Pedro Urizzi, and hosted by Gabriela de Matos

Published: February 13, 2025

The Arte1 channel premieres the documentary series Arquitetura Hoje! on February 13 at 8:30 PM. Directed by Pedro Urizzi and presented by architect and researcher Gabriela de Matos, the five-episode series explores the contributions of Afro-Brazilian architecture, going beyond physical construction to address its relationship with identity, territory, and resistance.

Urizzi emphasizes that the series is structured around orality and active listening, reflecting the fluid nature of Black architecture and the Global South.

“Directing Arquitetura Hoje! meant building a narrative in motion—just like Black architecture shapes the world, where words occupy space and orality gives the series its structure,” explains the director.

To shape this vision, Urizzi worked closely with Gabriela de Matos, who curated the content and conducted interviews across different regions:

“I didn’t edit any interviews without her input. Her presence is the narrative axis of the entire series. Afro-Brazilian architecture goes beyond buildings—it’s about territory, identity, and resistance,” he adds.

The series visits states like Bahia, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo, showing how architecture reflects the cultural characteristics of each region and how this impacts daily life.

“Each episode unfolds as a continuous flow, with the language adapting to the theme. The aesthetics emerge from the content—not the other way around. The editing respects its own rhythm, allowing sound, the body, and reflection to build the image together,” Urizzi says.

The premiere comes during a growing interest in Brazilian documentary filmmaking, and Urizzi reflects on the format’s relevance in the digital age:

“We live in a time when documentary art has never been more important—not just for preserving history, but for engaging with the present.”

He also draws a connection between the series’ theme and broader social transformations:

“The contribution of African peoples over the past four centuries has been deliberately erased and neglected due to slavery and structural racism in Brazil. But thanks to democratized access, social movements, and political activism, space has been reclaimed—not only by minorities, but also by people like me, who now see the world through a decolonial lens,” concludes Urizzi.

Arquitetura Hoje! will air every Thursday at 8:30 PM on Arte1 and will also be available on Arte1 Premium, Arte1 Play, Arte1 Play – Looke, and New Brasil Plus.

“By prioritizing orality and active listening, I aimed to translate the idea that inhabiting is a collective act—both in physical space and in cinematic form. Like in art, Arte1's editorial line allows us to subvert rigidity and formalism in favor of magic. This is my second series directed for the Arte1 channel,” Urizzi concludes.

Source: ISTOÉ – Arquitetura Hoje! https://istoe.com.br/serie-documental-arquitetura-hoje-do-canal-arte1-estreia-nesta-semana/