Recently, we at São Paulo Secreto told you how a 180-year-old listed barracks in Parque Dom Pedro II is in danger of collapsing due to lack of maintenance. Now, we bring you the story of another heritage site in the Historic Center that is suffering from neglect, despite its inestimable importance to the history of São Paulo: the Casa das Retortas.
The 19th century building stands out for its English-inspired architecture with exposed brickwork and an industrial profile. Located in the former Gasômetro Complex, the imposing Casa das Retortas transports us directly to São Paulo’s past, when gas was the city’s main source of energy.
Casa das Retortas changed São Paulo’s nights forever
The Gasômetro Complex was built at the end of the 19th century to produce energy and guarantee gas-powered public lighting for São Paulo. Until then, the city relied on oil lamps and moonlight, and the new plant changed the rhythm of São Paulo forever. For the first time, people took to the streets after dark!
In 1889, the São Paulo Gas Company – British company which managed the Gasômetro – built the Casa das Retortas. Built along the lines of English industries, the building housed the retorts, containers in which coal was burned to generate the gas that lit the lamps.
From the 1930s onwards, electricity gained strength and the gas lamp fell into disuse. As a result, the São Paulo Gas Company ceased its activities in Brazil and the Gasômetro Complex became the property of the municipality.
Abandoned heritage site could become creative hub
After years of lying empty, in the 2000s the Casa das Retortas under went renovations to accommodate new functions. One of the big plans was to set up a State History Museum there, but the high costs of decontaminating the soil delayed the work. As a result, the state government officially gave up on the plan in 2023, after investing more than R$100 million in revitalizing the space.
Since then, the Casa das Retortas has remained unoccupied and closed to the public. There is, however, new hope: in 2025, the city and state governments announced that they are considering transforming the building into a creative economy hub, with restaurants, bars and start-up offices.
If it comes to fruition, the project will be part of the Centro Requalification program and will give the Gasômetro Complex back to the people of São Paulo, transforming the former gas plant into one of São Paulo’s great creative addresses. While the future of the Casa das Retortas remains uncertain, you can take advantage of the video by the São Paulo State Civil Servants Association to learn more about its history: