Alfredo Luiz Porto de Britto was a professor at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and also at PUC-Rio, who built a career in architecture with strong social bases. It was like this since he became a university student in the 1960s.
He was always associated with causes of interest in the city over the years, he became one of the greatest specialists in cultural heritage and, among other causes, he fought for the preservation of the Castelinho do Flamengo and against the demolition of the Monroe Palace.
The architect worked in the restoration of the Arquivo Nacional (former Casa da Moeda), on the property where is currently located the Casa do Choro, in Rua da Carioca, and the Conjunto do Pedregulho, a project by Affonso Eduardo Reidy, about which he wrote the book "Pedregulho, the pioneering dream of popular housing in Brazil."
Alfredo worked as a teacher as well as a professional and developed a close relationship with the Institute of Architects of Brazil (IAB). He was secretary of the IAB-RJ and member of the national board from 1980 to 1983.
Aware of his social role, he was one of the founders of the NGO Viva Rio in 1993. Within the project, he designed a community center in Vila Cruzeiro.
As a resident of Santa Teresa, the architect organized, for over 30 years, a famous "roda de choro" at his house, a event of samba music, which included names like Paulinho da Viola and Yamandu Costa.
Text published in the newspaper O Globo, 11/26/2015