Itapeva St 101

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL

CLIENT
Private

TYPE
Retrofit I Residential I Hospitality

STATUS
On Hold

Built in the 1970s, Itapeva 101 stands at the centre of São Paulo’s economic and cultural evolution, in a district reshaped by the revival of the historic Matarazzo Hospital into a mixed landscape of hospitality, retail and cultural destinations. The Bela Vista neighbourhood, where Itapeva 101 sits, has been shaped by Italian immigrant heritage and is also anchored by institutions such as MASP and many other key city attractions. Together, these conditions give the building an unexpected degree of potential.

Rather than demolishing this relatively young structure, there is a clear opportunity to transform it into a high performing component of the city. Preserving the existing framework retains its embodied carbon and avoids the emissions associated with new construction. Through sustainable upgrades, from onsite energy generation to water harvesting and reuse, the project minimises new embodied carbon and positions Itapeva 101 as a future fit urban asset.

This transformation extends beyond the boundaries of the plot. A reactivated Itapeva 101 can influence the urban experience around it, generating effects far greater than its footprint. It becomes an active participant in the public realm, contributing to a more open, inclusive and sustainable city. In this sense, the project shifts from a forgotten fragment to a meaningful catalyst in São Paulo’s cultural and economic future.