Königsberger Vannucchi wraps São Paulo tower in rare wood and porcelain

Königsberger Vannucchi Arquitetos Associados has completed Bueno Brandão 257, a 22-storey residential skyscraper in São Paulo's Vila Nova Conceição neighbourhood. Each floor houses a single 5,381-square-foot apartment. The facade combines exposed concrete floor plates, Finnish timber cladding, and light sandy porcelain panels—a rare use of external wood cladding in Brazil, according to the studio. The porcelain is described as high-performance, and the wood was treated for fire resistance. The building's orientation informed its design: the northeast facade features planters for shading and solar filtering, while the more exposed northwest facade is more opaque. Cross ventilation, solar heating, and rainwater harvesting contribute to energy efficiency. Amenities include a gym, swimming pool, spa on the second floor, and a duplex penthouse with a private pool and outdoor terraces. The double-height lobby has exposed concrete columns and an entrance clad in thin vertical wood slats. The studio previously completed São Paulo's tallest skyscraper, Platina 220.