"First Typological Identification of the Public Ecumenical Baptistery of Méier"

This study, conducted by Sandalo Cavalcante da Silva Santos, presents the first typological identification and academic documentation of the Public Baptistery of Méier (Batistério Público do Méier), inaugurated on December 13, 2025, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.""Located in Jardim do Méier municipal square (century-old public square), this structure represents an unprecedented architectural typology: the first public baptistery built specifically in a municipal square, designed for ecumenical use and maintained by municipal government." This identification establishes intellectual priority for a new category of civic-religious infrastructure and is currently under formal review for Guinness World Records recognition (Application #260123170203fppb, filed January 23, 2026). Keywords: public baptistery, civic-religious architecture, urban religious infrastructure, ecumenical facilities, architectural typology, Rio de Janeiro