Imagine buying a property in ruins and discovering that it is, in fact, a masterpiece by one of São Paulo’s most renowned architects? This recently happened to businessman Allan Ruiz, who became the owner of the mansion at 97 Roberto Simonsen Street before he even knew of its illustrious origins.
The century-old mansion was designed by Ramos de Azevedo, the engineer-architect who helped reshape São Paulo between the 19th and 20th centuries. In addition to the mansion, he also designed the Municipal Theater, the Pinacoteca de São Paulo, the Casa das Rosas, and the Palácio das Indústrias, among other historic buildings in the capital.
Ramos de Azevedo’s design lay abandoned for years
The mansion was inaugurated in 1916 to serve as the headquarters of the Policlínica and the São Paulo Society of Medicine and Surgery, pioneers in the city’s medical development. In 1939, however, the institutions faced a financial crisis that led to the transfer of the property to Caixa Econômica Federal.
Eventually, it was auctioned off to an industrialist who never put the site to permanent use. For eight decades, the mansion hosted only occasional events, such as parties and temporary exhibitions. Although it is a historic landmark, the lack of use caused it to deteriorate increasingly, with broken windows, exposed bricks, and water leaks.
A new chance for the Mansion on Roberto Simonsen Street
This story of neglect, however, has a happy ending. Businessman Allan Ruiz, who specializes in purchasing and renovating historic properties in the city center, acquired the mansion with the intention of transforming it into a cultural center.
After the purchase, he noticed that the bricks had imprinted signatures and contacted archaeologist Angélica Moreira da Silva, who specializes in historic bricks, to discover their origin. Coincidentally, Angélica had participated in studies on the property and informed him that it was a project by Ramos de Azevedo.
Allan Ruiz then discovered he had “bought a pig in a poke”: the mansion was far more valuable than he had imagined! His goal now is to renovate it, contributing to the revitalization of the Historic Center.
The renovation is scheduled to begin in 2027, with funding secured through incentive laws. In the meantime, the new owner shares behind-the-scenes glimpses and discoveries from the mansion on his Instagram profile, revealing to the public the secrets of this treasure saved from oblivion.
