Cortiço, common Portuguese term used in Brazil and Portugal for an area of concentrated, high density urban housing where people live with poor sanitation and hygiene conditions.
Cortiço is a term used in Brazil to describe a specific type of urban residential structure. It refers to densely populated tenement buildings where multiple families live in crowded conditions.
The term cortiço emerged during Brazil's urbanization wave in the 1800s as city populations grew rapidly. This housing form became a characteristic response to rising demand for affordable housing in expanding urban centers.
Cortiço is primarily an academic term used in discussions about urban development and social structures. To understand the phenomenon, one can observe historical and contemporary urban centers in Brazil and notice how such housing structures shape neighborhoods.
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