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Gaze Down on the World from the Sao Paulo Edificio Altino Arantes
Built as the headquarters of the Bank of the State of Sao Paulo, the Sao Paulo Edificio Altino Arantes was the tallest building in the entire city for two full decades, before it was eventually surpassed by the Edificio Italia. It was between 1939 and 1947 that it was the bank’s headquarters, also known as the Torre do Banespa, and after it was completed it was given the title of the world’s largest structure of armed concrete.
The Sao Paulo Edificio Altino Arantes was designed by architect Plinio Botelho do Amaral, who gained inspiration for his design from the Empire State Building in New York City, as well as from fellow architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The panoramic view that one has from the top of the tower is no mistake, and it is this incredible sight that continues to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to the building each year. In fact, the building is currently undergoing expansion to include more room for the Banespa Cultural Institute center that focuses on the facilitation of cultural and artistic activities.
Construction of the Sao Paulo Edificio Altino Arantes took nearly 8 years, but after its completion – rising over 161 meters into the sky – it held the title of tallest skyscraper in Sao Paulo for almost 20 years. A prominent feature of the building at this time was a brightly lit signboard on the roof, and during its early years, the Torre do Banespa was held in awe due to its concrete construction – most of the buildings during this era were created out of metal.
It was in the 1960s that the name was officially changed to ‘Edificio Altino Arantes’, which honored the first Brazilian president of the Sao Paulo State Bank, Altino Arantes Marques. In keeping with tradition, additional construction work on the building has been next to nothing, with focus mainly on conservation and maintenance – even though in 2000, the Banespa was sold to a Spanish financial investment group.
This incredible building has 35 floors in total, and contains both 900 steps and 14 elevators to move people around. However, what may be the most impressive of all is the entrance hallway: the chandelier glistens with its inclusions of natural, Brazilian crystal, and the floors are a dark granite with a tiling pattern that details Brazil’s territory. Visitors are welcome at the Sao Paulo Edificio Altino Arantes during the week, where they can make their way to the observation deck and enjoy one of the most spectacular views of the city available.
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