Nitsche Arquitetos revamps São Paulo metro stations with timber kiosks
Nitsche Arquitetos has completed the renovation of Pinheiros and Faria Lima stations on São Paulo's Line 4-Yellow metro. The project stripped away years of accumulated signage and commercial clutter to reveal the original brutalist concrete structure. A modular engineered-eucalyptus kiosk system with garage-style doors was introduced for retail units. At Pinheiros, chromatic panelling creates a gradient from blue to yellow across three storeys, linking to Line 9-Emerald. LED lighting improves wayfinding in lower levels. Multi-media screens were consolidated into curving partitions. Faria Lima received less intensive interventions, including a tunnel with chromatic panelling and platform wall renovations. The timber kiosks store approximately 34.9 tonnes of CO₂ at Pinheiros and 26.2 tonnes at Faria Lima. Construction occurred while stations remained operational, often requiring night work. Studio co-founder Lua Nitsche emphasized that high-capacity public infrastructure can be welcoming and human-centred. Photography by Nelson Kon.
Key facts
- Nitsche Arquitetos renovated Pinheiros and Faria Lima stations on São Paulo's Line 4-Yellow metro.
- The project removed accumulated signage and commercial elements to reveal brutalist concrete structure.
- Modular engineered-eucalyptus kiosks with garage-style doors were installed for retail.
- At Pinheiros, chromatic panelling creates a blue-to-yellow gradient across three storeys, connecting to Line 9-Emerald.
- LED lighting was added to improve wayfinding in lower levels.
- Multi-media screens were consolidated into large curving partitions.
- Faria Lima received less intensive interventions including a tunnel with chromatic panelling.
- Timber kiosks store 34.9 tonnes of CO₂ at Pinheiros and 26.2 tonnes at Faria Lima.
- Construction was carried out while stations remained operational, often at night.
- Studio co-founder Lua Nitsche stated the goal was to make high-capacity infrastructure welcoming and human-centred.
- Photography is by Nelson Kon.
Entities
Artists
- Lua Nitsche
- Nelson Kon
Institutions
- Nitsche Arquitetos
- NitschePV
- Motiva
- ITA Engenharia
- LUX
- Dezeen
Locations
- São Paulo
- Brazil
- Pinheiros Station
- Faria Lima Station
- Line 4-Yellow
- Line 9-Emerald
Sources
- Dezeen —