Estúdio Módulo to Design New Itaú Cultural Headquarters on São Paulo's Avenida Paulista

Brazilian architecture firm Estúdio Módulo has won the competition to design the new headquarters of Itaú Cultural on Avenida Paulista in São Paulo. The winning proposal, led by partners Marcus Vinicius Damon, Guilherme Bravin, and Érica Tomasoni, was selected from an initial pool of six architecture firms. The design emphasizes a strong visual and spatial connection with the city, treating the building as an extension of public space. A dynamic facade of white brise-soleil filters light and gradually reveals interior colors, with terraces and staircases in terracotta tones that reference Brazilian folk art. The project aims to integrate references to Brazilian concrete art with technological solutions and environmental performance strategies. The building will include exhibition spaces, a theater, an auditorium, and areas for production and experimentation. A notable feature is the 'Clareira,' a garden in the basement that brings natural light and a sense of respite to lower levels. The flexible exhibition areas will be distributed between the first and sixth floors, including space for the Ocupação program and the Coleção Brasiliana. Estúdio Módulo, founded in 2015, has over 30 awards and nominations and has worked on projects such as Ágora Tech Park, Oscar 2525, and the Centro Cultural Rio-África. The new headquarters is designed to be open to the city, offering multiple ways for visitors to engage with the space.