Building Over The Waves

Building Over The Waves is a modernist residential structure built directly onto rocky formations between two beaches, with a curved design that incorporates blue ceramic tiles to blend with the coastal environment. The complex holds 44 one-bedroom units, 44 two and three-bedroom apartments, and two penthouses integrated into the rock without conventional foundations.

The architects Oswaldo Corrêa Gonçalves and Jaime Campello Fonseca Rodrigues started construction in October 1945, shortly after World War II, and finished the project in 1951. It became a landmark in Brazilian modernist architecture during a formative period for the country's design movement.

Over time, the structure became a symbol of human design working with natural landscapes rather than against them. The blue ceramic tiles covering its facade remain a striking visual element that connects the building to the ocean.

The building sits between two beaches and is easy to reach on foot from the surrounding area. Access to the exterior is open for viewing, but remember it is a private residential space, so exploring from the outside perimeter is the appropriate way to appreciate the architecture.

The ground floor features a curved slab influenced by Oscar Niemeyer that creates a natural ventilation system flowing through the entire complex. This clever air circulation design was one of the most practical innovations, helping keep interior spaces cool without mechanical air conditioning.