UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture Ernesto Ottone R, Thomas 
Vonier, President of the International Union of Architects (UIA), and Verena Vicentini Andreatta, Municipal Secretary of the City of Rio for Urbanism announced that the city of Rio de Janeiro will be the World Capital of Architecture for 2020.
“The World Capital of Architecture initiative underscores the common commitment of UNESCO and the UIA to preserve architectural heritage in the urban context,” said Ernesto Ottone R. “Through the range and quality of its activities, the World Capital of Architecture in Rio de Janeiro will demonstrate the 
crucial role of architecture and culture in sustainable urban development.”
In keeping with UNESCO’s recent partnership agreement with the UIA, UNESCO, designates the World Capital of Architecture, which also hosts the UIA’s World Congress, an event that takes place every three years. The World Capital of Architecture is intended to become an international forum for debates about pressing global challenges from the perspectives of culture, cultural heritage, urban planning and architecture.
As the first World Capital of Architecture, Rio de Janeiro will hold a series of 
events under the theme “All the worlds. Just one world,” and promote the internationally agreed 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’s 11th Goal: “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.”
UNESCO, the UIA and local institutions will organize activities to promote projects involving architects and urban planners as well as policy makers, social 
institutions and professionals from other sectors including artists and writers in an open and creative space of dialogue and innovation.
Rio Through its Architecture Rio de Janeiro has a lot of landscape architecture to visit. Here are some suggestions:
Historic Overview
Visiting the center of the city you will get a historical overview, seeing buildings from the colonial times, neoclassical, eclectic and highlights from modern architecture.
South Zone
Close to the beaches facing the Atlantic Ocean, lies the wealthy Rio’s South Zone area. It’s an urban residential borough with good infrastructure, many restaurants and shops. In contrast stand the favelas that coexist in almost every neighborhood.
Harbor Area
Because of the Olympics, the former harbor area became subject of an urban
redesign project. The plan tried to bring historical, economic and social interests together.
Oscar Niemeyer
Among architects, Oscar Niemeyer is the first thought connected to Brazil. The most known buildings by Niemeyer might be in Brasilia, but only in Rio you can learn his evolution from his very first building, a small nursery school, to his last built work, the complex for the University FGV.
Modern Rio
Modern European architecture influenced the Brazilian movement very strongly, but the style was not just copied. Adapting the principles to the tropical climate and Brazilian culture, the architects created a very own style.
Tropical Landscape Design
Rio de Janeiro has a lot of landscape architecture to visit. You can visit Burle Marx’s own property and park, where he planted over 4000 species. You will see the changes between the European influenced gardens to the more tropicalized projects using native species.