Urban Morphology in Brazil

the ugly duckling?

Abstract

This article introduces the thematic issue dedicated to Urban Morphology, presenting its conceptual, historical, and methodological foundations and highlighting its relevance to research, teaching, and professional practice in urban planning and design. Drawing on Italian, British, and French traditions, it discusses the formation of the field and its main analytical elements — buildings, plots, and streets — organized across multiple scales and grounded in the temporal dimension as a key interpretive lens for understanding urban transformation. It argues that, although Urban Morphology has achieved international recognition and consolidation, in Brazil the field still faces reductionist perceptions, institutional fragmentation, and disciplinary marginalization. Based on classical and contemporary references, the article proposes strengthening the dialogue between theory and practice, expanding its presence in Architecture and Urbanism curricula, and renewing the research agenda with a focus on critical territorial analysis, the development of analytical tools, and support for design and urban policies. By challenging persistent misconceptions and invoking the “ugly duckling” metaphor, the article advocates repositioning Urban Morphology as a foundational field for the qualified understanding and intervention in contemporary cities, contributing to more sensitive, rigorous, and transformative urban practices.