“A building with colored tiles” someone whispers. That’s the Edifício Anchieta. Right before you stands a piece of São Paulo’s architectural heritage. Built in 1941 it embodies the functional modernism of the era.
Designed by the MMM Roberto architectural office the Edifício Anchieta wasn’t just a building. It was a vision. A vision of vertical housing for industrial workers. Financed by the IAPI Institute of Retirement and Pensions for Industrial Workers it provided much-needed apartments. Sixty simple apartments and twelve duplexes filled its ten floors. A front garden once graced its facade. But the widening of Avenida Paulista in the 1970s claimed that green space.
The building’s history is intertwined with the lives of its residents. Its location on the corner of Avenida Paulista Rua da Consolação and Avenida Angélica made it a vibrant hub. The Riviera Bar located on the ground floor and upper floor added to its charm. This bar wasn’t just a place to drink. It became a haven for artists intellectuals. Chico Buarque Toquinho and Elis Regina were among its regulars. It was a place where ideas critical of the military dictatorship flowed freely. The bar’s vibrant atmosphere even inspired the song “Diversões Eletrônicas” by Arrigo Barnabé.
The Edifício Anchieta however wasn’t immune to the changes that swept São Paulo. After the IAPI’s dissolution in 1963 the INSS took over. They eventually sold the apartments transforming the building’s purpose. The Riviera Bar also faced challenges closing its doors in 2006. It reopened in 2013 thanks to chef Alex Atala and businessman Facundo Guerra.
Today the Edifício Anchieta stands as a testament to a bygone era. It’s a blend of residential and commercial spaces a place with a rich past and an uncertain future. Its legacy continues to inspire. Its story is a microcosm of São Paulo’s own evolution a vibrant mix of progress and preservation. The Edifício Anchieta reminds us that even in a city of constant change some things endure. Their stories linger within the walls of this remarkable building. The Edifício Anchieta waits to tell its story. It’s a story of progress and adaptation of community and change. It’s a story woven into the very fabric of São Paulo itself.