DNA Paulistano

The project emerges as a form of retrofit: it begins from a building that had already been developed at the schematic approval stage and was awaiting the start of construction. The proposal by Arquitetura Nacional revisits this starting point, updating the façades, adjusting internal layouts, and developing the interior design along with the spatial curation.

Located along the Minhocão, in the central area of São Paulo, the building engages directly with an infrastructure that, over time, has been transformed into an elevated park on weekends and a platform for multiple artistic expressions. Composed predominantly of studio units, it reflects a contemporary way of living, shaped by a dynamic lifestyle and a strong relationship with public space. Its façade is organized through a rigorous grid, bringing rhythm and order to the whole. However, the corner’s rigor was broken, creating a gesture that also dialogues with the graffiti and murals that turn the Minhocão into an open-air gallery. From this emerges the proposal of an artistic gable in perforated metal panels, extending across the full height of the building. For its realization, Arquitetura Nacional invited Marco Chaparro to develop the artwork: a totem of animal heads rising from water to sky, evoking nature and a Brazilian mystical symbolism, in contrast with São Paulo’s urban landscape.

In the common areas, the logic of the grid is also intentionally disrupted, creating moments of surprise and identity. Focal points of color become internal landmarks, such as the orange plaza positioned at the level of the Minhocão, conceived as a gesture of direct connection with the elevated park. This space expands the experience of social interaction, functioning as an extension of public life and reinforcing a sense of belonging to the urban fabric. The building incorporates, in its materiality and design, the artistic and cultural energy that pulses through the area, actively participating in the life of the city.