In a global context of growing urbanization and of marked transformations in cities, there are some processes that are peculiar to the dynamics of large Brazilian cities. Such processes substantially change the configuration of the cities, promoting a rupture of the consolidated urban fabric and of the practices of appropriation and use of that space, compromising its sustainability. From this perspective, the aim of this study is to analyze the impact of verticalization and densification promoted by urban legislation changes on the residential space quality (RSQ) in a neighborhood of Porto Alegre (RS). Based on a case study, a comparative analysis of different blocks was made, using a method of assessment of the Residential Space Quality (RSQ). The procedures employed include the analysis of documents, data collection and direct observation. The application of the RSQ assessment tool shows the quality of the dwelling, the quality of the dwelling context, the quality of services and the quality of the home-services pathways in the area, pointing to significant differences between blocks that have suffered sharp verticalization and blocks that have kept their original typology. The main contribution of this paper is to explore the potential use of the RSQ tool to illustrate the impact of the implementation of urban development legislation and support the discussion of the spatial model of development of the city.
Residential space; Verticalization; Environmental impact; Sustainability