Residence of Michel Assad, Neoclassical residential palace in Ipiranga district, São Paulo, Brazil.
The Michel Assad Residence is a neoclassical mansion in the Ipiranga district featuring a marble staircase, veranda with iron doors, and landscaped gardens along Costa Aguiar Street. The building was designed by architects Malta & Guedes and now functions as corporate offices.
The mansion was designed in 1924 by architects Malta & Guedes for Michel Assad, a Lebanese immigrant who arrived in Brazil at age 16 in 1901. It was built during a period when prosperous immigrant families expressed their success through grand architecture.
The interior displays classical columns, arches, and ornate ceilings that reflect the architectural tastes of successful Lebanese immigrants in São Paulo. These design choices showed how families honored European tradition while building their lives in Brazil.
The protected building maintains its original structure and sits at 1055 Costa Aguiar Street. Since the mansion now functions as corporate offices, public access is limited, so visitors should view the exterior facade and gardens from the street.
The mansion shares architectural features with neighboring properties owned by the Jafet family, as Michel Assad was Benjamin Jafet's brother-in-law. This connection reveals how wealthy Lebanese families in São Paulo built close networks and constructed their homes near one another.
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