Riachuelo Building, Residential building in Sé, São Paulo, Brazil.
The Riachuelo Building is an eight-story residential mansion featuring pointed arches, decorative patterns, and vertical elements of Gothic Revival design. The structure displays characteristic details of this European style that found its way to South America.
Construction began in 1925 and ended in 1929, following a design by Samuel das Neves and Cristiano Stockler das Neves, executed by the Luis Asson engineering office for the Sousa Queiroz family. In 1976 the São Paulo Metro works threatened demolition; mayor Olavo Setúbal ordered the building preserved and the Metro to reinforce it instead, at a cost of 12.5 million cruzeiros, one million more than expropriation.
The building carries Conpresp classification and demonstrates how European architectural styles were adapted into São Paulo's urban fabric. Its ornate facade shapes the character of the Glicério neighborhood today.
The building sits in downtown São Paulo and is easily reached on foot, with the surrounding area featuring busy streets and other historic structures. The exterior view is fully visible from the street and requires no special preparation for a visit.
In 1976 the metro works threatened the building with demolition; mayor Olavo Setúbal ordered it preserved and the metro to reinforce its structure instead, at a cost of 12.5 million cruzeiros, just 1 million more than expropriation would have cost.
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