at a glance

two factors strongly influenced the growth of the neighborhood - the inauguration of the dois irmãos tunnel in 1971, and  its extension, the auto estrada lagoa-barra, which officially launched são conrado as a residential neighborhood.  

the first large condominiums were constructed around this time, along with the building of the intercontinental and the national hotels. since then, são conrado quickly became, and has since maintained its position as a haven for the affluent and wealthy  proportion of society. the early sophistication of the 1982 shopping mall is a clear reflection of this demographic.

this occured in stark contrast to the accelerated growth of rocinha, one of the largest favelas in the city, situated exactly across from são conrado, which saw massive expansion in the 1970s and 80s.