Cidade das Artes Bibi Ferreira, Cultural center in Barra da Tijuca, Brazil
Cidade das Artes is a cultural complex in Barra da Tijuca designed by Christian de Portzamparc. Its pale grey concrete mass is raised on supports above an open ground level. On the left, a broad sloping wall rises from a pointed base to a thick overhanging roof slab; to the right, a long horizontal volume carries slender vertical concrete fins along its upper facade. A metal staircase with railings climbs to a recessed entrance behind columns, and a flat walkway bridges out to the right.
Christian de Portzamparc's design was presented in October 2002, with an R$80 million budget and a planned 2004 opening. The complex opened unfinished as Cidade da Música on 26 December 2008 under Mayor César Maia, and was formally inaugurated as Cidade das Artes on 16 May 2013 after R$518 million in investment. In 2020 municipal law 6.812 renamed it for artist Bibi Ferreira.
This center serves as a gathering place for musical performances, dance shows, and artistic events that bring the community together. Different halls accommodate various art forms and allow both large productions and intimate performances to take place.
The venue is easily reached by car and offers parking spaces for visitors on site. Multiple bus lines serve the Barra da Tijuca area, making public transportation convenient.
The complex was first named after journalist Roberto Marinho, who died weeks before construction began; his family asked that his name be removed, and the venue became Cidade da Música. In 2020 the city council renamed it in honour of actress Bibi Ferreira for her centenary. An underground pedestrian passage links the site to the Alvorada BRT terminal.
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