Architecture, Culture and Curves
The Residential Buildings of Architect Ruy Ohtake in São Paulo, Brazil. by Arch. Marcio N. de Oliveira, MSc. Contents 1. The apartment building in São Paulo: a background. 2. The architecture of Ruy Ohtake. 3. The curve as an architectural expression. 4. The Maison de Mouette building . 5. Comments 6. References 1. The Apartment Building in São Paulo: a background. The residential building in Brazil constitutes a fairly recent architectural product. The earlier residential towers in São Paulo date back to mid twenties, a time when this type of living usually had a very restrict acceptance by the average middle class home buyers. These early examples of residential buildings shared a common peculiarity: almost the totality targeted the rental market. They were properties inherited by wealthy coffee families of the state, designed to ensure a comfortable retirement or widowing for their owners. At that time, rental income reigned as the most profitable of all market investment...