Located in Morumbi, the mansion of former Banco Santos banker Edemar Cid Ferreira has been through a series of sales, resales, and auctions. Today, the property stands the test of time, despite showing signs of neglect on the exterior .
The lot, which occupies practically the entire block at the highest point of the neighborhood, offers a spectacular view and an excellent location. It provides access to Morumbi’s main roads and is home to a property with a high market value.
The luxurious residence spans approximately 8,000 square meters and has five stories. It features numerous interior spaces, as it was designed to function as a private city.
Linked to the history of Banco Santos, the property was once considered a symbol of power and ostentation. However, following the institution’s bankruptcy, the building became the primary asset in the judicial liquidation.
The architecture of the Banco Santos banker’s mansion
The property, which once housed works of art by renowned artists such as Basquiat and Di Cavalcanti, has five floors and large, reinforced windows. In total, the structure has 80 rooms and 34 bathrooms.
The property features a recreational area with indoor and outdoor pools, a gym, a library, tennis courts, and even a wine cellar with a capacity for about 5,000 bottles.
The property features elevators, a helipad, and a generator capable of powering a mini-city of about 20,000 residents. The architecture also features finishes and details that exude luxury.
The dining room features a gold-plated wall and a 24-seat mahogany table dating directly from the 19th century.
And it doesn’t end there: the house also featured an internal circulation system with a dedicated elevator for delivering food to the bedrooms. A hallmark of Ruy Ohtake’s work, the house bears a notable influence from Japanese architecture.
It is estimated that the maintenance cost, when the property was in constant use, was around 1 million reais per year. This amount covered the staff, the home’s systems, and the maintenance of the gardens and pools.
How it looks today and who owns it
Currently, dense vegetation surrounds the property, forming a “mini forest” that gives the impression of an abandoned house in the heart of São Paulo. The site was even evaluated for possible demolition.
The property no longer belongs to Edemar or his family. It is now owned by businessman José Janguiê Diniz, who purchased it for approximately 27.5 million reais at a judicial auction in 2020.
The businessman stated that he had plans to transform the building into a high-endschool , thus taking advantage of the structure’s size and prime location. However, in 2023, another project gained momentum: the idea of demolishing the mansion and building a condominium in its place.
However, to date, neither of the two plans has come to fruition. The house remains at the same address, serving as the subject of debates regarding environmental preservation and the possibility of new developments on the site.
