Metro Arquitetos

Renata Building

Renata Building
© Fran Parente

Renata Building

Metro Arquitetos

CLIENT
Planta INC

PHOTOGRAPHS
Fran Parente

ARCHITECTS IN CHARGE
Martin Corullon, Gustavo Cedroni

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Oswaldo Bratke

CREATIVE DIRECTION
Aline Prado (Planta INC)

PROJECT TEAM
Gustavo Cedroni, Martin Corullon, Fabiane Sakai, Neno Loschi, Andrea Lakatos, Matheus Soares, Rodrigo Silva, Breno Felisbino, Costanza Leoni, Fernando Comparini

MANAGEMENT
W Management

DEVELOPMENT
Guil Blanche, Tatiana Isikawa e Paula Yoshimura (Planta INC)

LIGHTING DESIGN
Estúdio Lodi

CONSTRUCTION WORKS
RMR Engenharia

RESTORATION WORK
Ambiencia, Ana Marta Ditolvo

ENGINEERING
Maperclima, Gomes Engenharia, Arqmate, Proassp, Soft Engenharia, Armando Pucci

VISUAL DESIGN
Julia Masagao, Beatriz Oliveira (Allesblau)

INTERIOR FITTING
Camila Tomaz, Patrícia Rondon (Planta INC)

COMPLETION YEAR
January 2024

BEGINNING YEAR
February 2021

AREA
7640 m²

LOCATION
São Paulo, Brazil

CATEGORY
Apartments, Restoration

YEAR
2024

METRO Arquitetos is responsible for the requalification and restoration project of the Renata Sampaio Ferreira Building, an icon of São Paulo, originally designed by architect Oswaldo Bratke in 1956.

Renata Building
© Fran Parente
Renata Building
© Fran Parente

Along with landmarks such as Copan and the old Hilton Hotel, Renata Sampaio Ferreira is part of a group of six buildings listed in 2012 by CONPRESP (Municipal Council for the Preservation of the Historical, Cultural and Environmental Heritage of the City of São Paulo) from the so-called "Modern São Paulo", an urban complex of great historical and architectural value in the center of the city of São Paulo.

The requalification conducted by METRO aimed to transform the building, which was previously commercial, into residential.

Renata Building
© Fran Parente
Renata Building
© Fran Parente

In addition to the restoration and recovery of the building itself, Metro proposed to recover a traditional way of life in the center of São Paulo through its new program.

The Renata Building has been transformed into a new and vibrant cultural, gastronomic and residential complex, with uses that include apartments, ranging from 26 to 240 m2, for short to long stays, restaurants, bar, café and event spaces, as well as leisure areas on the middle floor, also accessible to the public.

The swimming pool, the only visible intervention, reinforces the transformation of the building through a playful program, with the landscape of downtown São Paulo as a backdrop.

Renata Building
© Fran Parente
Renata Building
© Fran Parente
Renata Building
© Fran Parente

Installed about 300 meters from the República subway station, on the corner of Major Sertório and Araújo streets, the building is a valuable remnant of São Paulo's modern architecture and the legacy of one of its great masters, Oswaldo Bratke (1907-1997).

Renata was inaugurated in 1956 and designed by modernist architect Oswaldo Bratke (1907-1997).

His body of work is marked by a strong residential production, highlighting the Morumbi residence of Maria Luisa and Oscar Americano (1952), which currently houses the Oscar Americano Foundation, and the Jaçatuba (1942) and ABC (1949) buildings, also located in Vila Buarque.

Renata Building
© Fran Parente
Renata Building
© Fran Parente
Renata Building
© Fran Parente

The hollow elements, which define the building's design identity, remained preserved in the architectural project by Metro Architects.

An important improvement adopted by the retrofit was the installation of frames recessed from the breeze block (cobogós) façades, resulting in a sunny and multifunctional intermediate balcony space for residents.

In 2024, the firm received The Monocle Design Awards. The award is a celebration of the British magazine of the same name for world design, and the Renata Building won in the "Best Retrofit" category, with METRO's partners being the only Brazilians on the list.

Renata Building
© Fran Parente
Renata Building
© Fran Parente

INTERIOR DESIGN

In addition to being responsible for the architectural design, METRO designed Renata's interiors.

The interiors of the apartments embody the simplicity of modernism and the minimalism of Japanese joinery, marked by the chromatic duality of black and white.

Renata Building
© Fran Parente
Renata Building
© Fran Parente

Through its design arm, METRO Objetos, the firm developed a line of exclusive objects for the building, such as dressers, bookshelves, sideboards and bedside tables made of nestable parts, all of which can be modulated and easily adapted to the user’s needs.

SAO PAULO'S NEW MEETING POINT

Renata has established itself as the new meeting point in downtown São Paulo. The building has space for events, exhibitions, meetings and more.

Renata Building
© Fran Parente
Renata Building
© Fran Parente

During the retrofit, METRO added common areas which did not exist in the original project. Now, Renata is complete with a gym, sauna and swimming pool, the latter with a privileged view of the Copan Building.

The dining part is also well taken care of. On the pool floor, visitors and residents can check out the Parador restaurant, which started as a summer pop-up but continues to operate at full throttle.

Renata Building
© Fran Parente
Renata Building
© Fran Parente

With good food and a swimming pool on sunny days, Parador also offers musical attractions and DJs to liven up the atmosphere.

It is possible to experience the Renata building up close. The building is operated by multinational company Blueground, and the apartments are available for rent on the Tabas platform.

Renata Building
© Fran Parente
Renata Building
© Fran Parente

The units are rented fully furnished, with a minimum stay of two days, including all consumption expenses, rent and condominium fees.

Renata is the stage of great meetings in São Paulo, bringing back the opportunity to share good moments in the city center.

Renata Building
© Fran Parente
Renata Building
© Fran Parente
Renata Building


Renata Building
© Fran Parente
Renata Building
© Fran Parente
Renata Building
© Fran Parente


Renata Building
Proposal - Frames 01
Renata Building
Proposal - Frames 02


Renata Building
Section AA / Section BB
Renata Building
Existing Building / Proposal


Renata Building
Restoration 01
Renata Building
Restoration 02


Renata Building
Plan - Basement
Renata Building
Plan - Ground floor
Renata Building
Plan - Intermediary
Renata Building
Plan - Standard floor
Renata Building
Plan - Duplex upper floor
Renata Building
Plan - Duplex lower floor


Renata Building
Plan - 1 bedroom 51m2
Renata Building
Plan - Studio 2 48m2
Renata Building
Plan - Studio 1 36m2
Renata Building
Detail

Renata Building
Detail

Metro Arquitetos
T +55 11 31590900 M +55 11 32551221
Metro Arquitetos
Av. Ipiranga, 344 - SALA 251A - República, São Paulo - SP, 01046-010, Brazil