A new Itaú Cultural tower for Paulista Avenue

São Paulo practice Estúdio Módulo has unveiled its winning design for the new headquarters of Itaú Cultural1 on Paulista Avenue. Chosen from a six-firm competition, the project is conceived as a tall, slim building that tries to work less like a sealed object and more like an extension of the street. The architects describe it as a way to connect Brazilian concrete art, high-tech construction and references to popular art in one public-facing building.

The scheme pairs a low podium with a 19-level tower, eight floors of it below ground. Above, the building will sit behind a semi-transparent screen of white louvres and glass, with a terracotta-coloured staircase visible through the facade. Estúdio Módulo says the changing view through the brise-soleil is meant to give the building a shifting, almost kinetic quality. At podium level, a large central cut-out marks the entrance, while a rooftop terrace with glass balustrades will look back over the avenue.

Inside, the 12,275-square-metre programme includes exhibition spaces, performance venues, educational areas, studios and public gathering spaces. The subterranean levels are planned as a performance hub, with an auditorium for more than 100 people and a theatre for more than 400. It is slated to open in 2031, so this is one to file away for future São Paulo trips rather than book around now.

Our summary of a story from Dezeen, published 5 October 2026. Read the original