The CBI Esplanada skyscraper, which opened in 1951, was the first skyscraper in Vale do Anhangabaú in central São Paulo and revolutionised the landscape of that city. Designed by the Polish architect Lucjan Krongold, the building represented a major technological and architectural advance in Brazil. Its height is 105 metres and its area is an impressive 50,000 square metres, making it the largest reinforced concrete structure in the world at the time of its completion.
The building was designed by the Polish architect Lucjan Korngold, who graduated in architecture from the Faculty of Architecture in Warsaw. In 1939, he and his family left the country, fleeing war and persecution. The Krongolds chose Brazil as their new home, where the man continued his work as an architect. Originally, the skyscraper project was to be based on a 1938 plan by Elisiário Bahian, but for unknown reasons work was halted, and it was not until 1946 that Octávio Guinle commissioned Krongold to create a new design that included three blocks: two for offices and one for a hotel.
The skyscraper in the 1960s Photo by Werner Haberkorn, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Korngold designed the façade of the building in a modernist style that was markedly different from the classical architecture prevalent in the area. The project encountered resistance from officials who did not understand modern solutions, resulting in a two-year delay in approving the construction. Finally, planning permission was granted in 1948 and the building was completed in 1951. The façade of the 33-storey skyscraper is dominated by an orthogonal grid that delineates the horizontal divisions of the floors, while the vertical rhythm of the modules acts as protection from the sun and rain. Windows made of metal and glass ensure adequate ventilation and interior lighting. The simple and compact body of the building has maintained the classic division into base, main section and finial. The upper zone, with its monumental porticoes, fits harmoniously into the geometric uniformity of the cuboidal form.
Korngold’s architectural design was groundbreaking for the city of São Paulo, setting a new style for later buildings constructed on the site. The use of modern technologies, such as concrete construction, allowed for flexible use of space inside the building. The individual floor plan was designed to allow maximum functionality, which was important for the building’s diverse commercial uses. The project was awarded a gold medal at the Pan-American Architecture Exhibition in Lima in 1948.
Over the years, the CBI Esplanade has undergone a number of changes to modernise and restore it to its former glory. In the 1990s, the skyscraper was listed as a historic monument, which protected the building for years to come and highlighted its historical and architectural significance. The contemporary CBI Esplanade is a commercially-oriented building, providing headquarters for companies in a variety of sectors, including accounting, auditing and public institutions. The building is also a tourist attraction for those interested in architecture, still being one of the largest concrete buildings in Latin America.
Source: polonica.co.uk, cbiesplanada.com.br
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