Peeking at Brazil Through a Cobogó

Architecture-focused tourism almost never takes into account the—often traditional—production processes behind celebrated buildings, and thus fails to consider the work of artisans, economic systems, and the principles of sustainability and the circular economy, which, albeit unconsciously, have always underpinned the production and installation of architectural components. This paper aims to outline an alternative interpretation of Brazilian modernist architecture—a destination for specialized tourism—by focusing on the enduring presence of the cobogò, a structural and decorative element that serves both as a sign of long-term continuity in housing practices and as a catalyst for circular and sustainable economic initiatives.