Casarão de Nhonhô Magalhães, Elite mansion in Higienópolis, São Paulo, Brazil
Casarão de Nhonhô Magalhães is a mansion in Higienópolis with five levels featuring French architectural design combined with Belgian stained glass windows and Murano glass details throughout its interior. The building now holds event spaces accommodating up to 200 people, a private chapel, a small theater, and a ground floor dedicated to rotating art exhibitions.
The residence was commissioned in 1927 by Carlos Leôncio Magalhães but he died in 1931 before its completion. His widow and children became the first residents and experienced the property as it was finished according to the original design.
The mansion served as a family residence that embodied the lifestyle and values of São Paulo's upper class in the early 1900s. Its private chapel and theater reveal the cultural interests and artistic pursuits that were important to the elite families of that era.
The property functions primarily as an event venue and cultural space, so visiting is best arranged in advance based on scheduled exhibitions or activities. The ground floor art exhibitions tend to have more flexible access times than the private spaces upstairs.
During restoration work, crews discovered the original wall colors and architectural details from the 1930s hidden beneath seven layers of paint. This discovery allowed restorers to authentically recreate the mansion's appearance from its earliest years.
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