Socio-spatial inequalities and contradictions in the production of urban space in Rio das Ostras/RJ

Abstract

From the 2000s onwards, the city of Rio das Ostras/RJ experienced a process of urban expansion and demographic growth, which quadrupled its population in a period of 24 years, resulting in rapid and unequal urbanization in the municipality. From this perspective, this article analyzes socio-spatial inequalities and the contradictions of space production, based on analysis of urban infrastructure and services in the research neighborhoods. The methodological approach is based on qualitative research in central and peripheral neighborhoods, fieldwork, documentary analysis, and the application of semi-structured questionnaires with residents of selected neighborhoods. The analysis revealed contradictions between the center and the periphery, with areas marked by overlapping deficiencies, such as lack of paving, sewage systems, piped water, access to cultural and leisure facilities, and the deterioration of public services in peripheral and more densely populated neighborhoods, particularly in Praia Âncora, Cidade Beira Mar, and Cidade Praiana, among other common issues faced by residents of these locations. In contrast, the central neighborhoods, such as Costazul and Jardim Mariléa, demonstrate a reproduction of the capitalist forms and contents typical of high-income groups and specialized services, especially aimed at tourism, centralization of infrastructure, and public maintenance, which results in different levels of inequalities in the urban fabric of Rio das Ostras.