“In the Universe of Culture, the Center is Everywhere.” This is not just a phrase. It is an invitation to understand the spirit of the Praça do Relógio.
Welcome. Right here at the Praça do Relógio in São Paulo. This public space resides within the Cidade Universitária Armando de Salles Oliveira. That is the main campus of the Universidade de São Paulo USP. The Praça do Relógio spans an impressive 176000 square meters.
In 1935, Armando de Salles Oliveira, then governor of São Paulo, sought a location to unite USP’s schools. These schools were scattered across temporary locations in the city. Construction of the campus was slow. It depended on state funding.
A development plan from 1954 envisioned a “civic space” resembling today’s Praça do Relógio. It included a library, administrative buildings and a central lake. The idea was to organically unite the university units. In 1960 funding was approved. This allowed faster construction on campus. By 1966 the area was a civic-cultural center.
The Praça do Relógio officially opened in 1971. USP began closing the campus on weekends. This affected the Praça’s program. Architects avoided recreational equipment. The Praça became a space for contemplation. It featured large open spaces and native vegetation.
In 1997 a major renovation altered the landscape for R$1.2 million. The renovation replicated six of São Paulo’s ecosystems. Between 2013 and 2014 the pavement was replaced. A new lighting system was installed.
At the heart of the Praça do Relógio stands its namesake clock tower. Rino Levi designed it. Elisabeth Nobiling created the sculptural elements. The tower consists of two concrete plates. Each plate measures 50 meters high and 10 meters wide. They connect by staircases.
Clocks sit atop the tower. Each face has a clock with dials over three meters in diameter. Minute hands measure 1.50 meters. Hour hands measure 1.30 meters. Bells accompany the clocks. An atomic impulse regulates the carillon. It comes from the university’s astronomy institute. This ensures accuracy within one-hundredth of a second per day. The master clock and motor are underground.
Each face features six panels in high and low relief. Nobiling designed these. She drew inspiration from Benedetto Croce’s concepts of the mind. The west side faces the new rectory. It represents “the world of fantasy”. Panels depict poetry, social sciences, economics, dance, architecture and philosophy. The east side faces the old rectory. It symbolizes “the world of reality”. Sculptures honor astronomy, chemistry, biology, physics, geology and mathematics.
Around the tower is a reflecting pool. Mosaic tiles spell out “No Universo da Cultura o centro está em toda parte”. Miguel Reale, former USP rector, wrote the phrase.
The initial foundation stone was laid in 1954. The Portuguese community funded construction. Work began in 1972. The tower was inaugurated in 1973.
The Praça do Relógio stands as a reminder. It honors culture, science and the ongoing pursuit of knowledge. The tower watches over the university community. Its symbolism enriches the space. Take a moment to reflect on this legacy. Consider the blend of art, science and culture. It is all around us. It is here at the Praça do Relógio.