A large black trapezoid “slid” over one of the main streets in Sao Paulo in 1979. The headquarters of FIESP (Federação das Indústrias do Estado de Sao Paulo), or the Federation of Enterprises of the State of Sao Paulo, is one of the most interesting examples of Brazilian modernism and brutalism. The building looks as if it is floating above Avenida Paulista, even though it actually stands on thin pillars. The architecture of the office building expresses the modernity and ingenuity of a thriving Brazilian city. Interestingly, at night the façade is transformed into an outdoor digital art gallery by means of 100,000 LED lights.
A new
Until the 1960s, the Avenida Paulista, the city’s most important artery, boasted low-rise buildings with entrepreneurial villas and a fair amount of greenery. One such property was the eclectic home of Syrian businessman Nagib Salem, but it declined after the owner’s death. The dilapidated villa was demolished, despite the efforts of the local community, and in its place the headquarters of FIESP and 49 other trade unions and organisations were envisaged.
The new modernist Brazil wanted to turn Avenida Paulista into a model street for the modern city. The winners of the competition for the FIESP headquarters, Roberto Cerqueira César and Luiz Roberto de Carvalho Franco from the studio of the then-deceased Rino Levi, wanted to surprise the residents with their ingenuity. Their design called for the creation of a large trapezoidal block set on pilots, to which a separate cuboidal office building would be added. Construction took nine years and the official opening ceremony took place in 1980.
Black forehead
The futuristic front of the office building jutting out into the street is not just an aesthetic treatment. This arrangement of the floors allows more light into the interiors of the lower floors. The building is intended to be useful not only for office workers, but also for residents. From street level, one can access the rear of the building using a walkway under the black trapezoid. The architects also wanted FIESP to be a meeting place. However, this idea was only fully realised in the 1990s, when one of Brazil’s most important architects, Paulo Mendes da Rocha, added a mezzanine with an art gallery to the block. Interestingly, the 1998 extension fit under the main body of the office building.
This is by no means the end of the relationship between the Brutalist office building and culture. In later years, the building still housed a cultural centre, a café and even a theatre with a small auditorium. All these institutions managed to fit into the lower parts of the building. In addition, at the back of the building, the well-known landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx created a mosaic relief. The architect is also responsible for the design of the winter garden located next to the bookshop and café. The latest addition to the FIESP is an outdoor digital art gallery displayed on the walls of the pyramid until six o’clock in the morning. Since 2012. 100,000 LEDs create both interactive and static images.
Desired modernity
The building’s open architecture reflects a transformation in the city’s approach to its residents. The military dictatorship of Brazil’s Fifth Republic, which began in 1964, was characterised by bans on access to certain facilities in the city. Despite the open intention of the designers, the passageway and floors under the FIESP building were closed shortly after the building opened. This state of affairs continued after the fall of the dictatorship in 1985. It was not until Paulo Medes da Rocha opened this eye-catching building to passers-by.
The Edificio FIESP is not only an interesting example of functionalist Brutalist architecture, but also a place to experience the diverse culture of Sao Paulo. In turn, Avenida Paulista is today the Brazilian agora, and FIESP has had a significant part in this transformation. It was the great architects like Oscar Niemeyer and Paulo Mendes da Rocha who brought their country closer to the desired modernity by creating original designs. To this day, Brazil’s tropical modernism definitely stands out from the era, offering unparalleled ingenuity and daring from its architects.
Source: Architecture Lab
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