Mirante do Vale

Office in São Paulo, Brazil
23°32′31.97″S 46°38′07.26″W / 23.5422139°S 46.6353500°W / -23.5422139; -46.6353500Construction started1959; 65 years ago (1959)Completed1960; 64 years ago (1960)Inaugurated1966; 58 years ago (1966)HeightRoof170 m (558 ft)Technical detailsFloor count51Floor area75,000 m2 (810,000 sq ft)Lifts/elevators12Design and constructionArchitect(s)Waldomiro ZarzurEngineerAron Kogan

Mirante do Vale Building (Portuguese: Condomínio Mirante do Vale, loosely translated as Overlook of the Valley Condominium), commonly called Mirante do Vale, is a 170-metre (558 ft) office skyscraper located in São Paulo, Brazil, in the area of Downtown São Paulo and Vale do Anhangabaú. Constructed from 1959 to 1966, it was the tallest building in São Paulo for 54 years until 2022 when it was surpassed by Platina 220. Mirante do Vale was also the tallest in Brazil until 2014 when it was surpassed by Millennium Palace in Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina.

Construction

The building was built and designed by structural engineer Waldomiro Zarzur and architect Aron Kogan.

History

Designed by engineer Waldomiro Zarzur with Aron Kogan, the Mirante do Vale is located in the region of Vale do Anhangabaú, having access via three entrances, one on Prestes Maia Avenue, another on Pedro Lessa Square, and another on Brigadeiro Tobias Street. The construction of the skyscraper took two years. Waldomiro was an engineer with considerable experience. His first work, a house at Afonso Brás Street, Vila Nova Conceição, was performed when he was just 21 and still studying engineering at Mackenzie. At that time, the friendship with fellow student Aron Kogan became a society - which lasted until 1960, when Kogan was murdered Waldomiro took over the company.

It's possible to have an aerial view of Vale do Anhangabaú by visiting the observatory of the Altino Arantes Building or of the Edifício Itália, places that seem to be higher. It can also be seen from Viaduto do Chá and Viaduto Santa Efigênia, the latter well in front of the building. During certain periods, the concrete lattice structure at top of the building supported large neon signs advertising various brands, such as Fanta and Sharp, among others.

The building was known as the Palácio Zarzur Kogan (Zarzur Kogan Palace) until 1988. Being located in a valley, Mirante do Vale sits on a lower part of the city compared to the other two and is, therefore, perceived as being lower than other buildings in the city, such as the Edifício Itália or the Altino Arantes Building. Another factor that contributes to the relative lack of knowledge of people towards the building is that it is closed for public visitation, although access to the top can be granted by permission.[1]

Observation

On top of Mirante do Vale, it is possible to observe the entire region of Downtown São Paulo and part of the Paulista Avenue, including buildings Itália and Altino Arantes.

A bird's eye view of Mirante do Vale is possible from the observation decks of either the Altino Arantes Building or the Edifício Itália.

View over Downtown São Paulo, and Edifício Itália, in the top of Mirante do Vale

See also

  • flagBrazil portal

Sources

  1. ^ "Tightrope on top of Sao Paulo". All City New York. Retrieved 2010-01-14.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mirante do Vale.
Records
Preceded by Tallest building in South America
170 m (558 ft)
1960–1972
Succeeded by
Tallest building in Brazil
170 m (558 ft)
1960–2014
Succeeded by
Tallest building in São Paulo
170 m (558 ft)
1960–present
Succeeded by
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