Occupying one of the city’s most iconic addresses, the design and concept for the new Itaú Cultural headquarters have been unveiled. With 19 floors, the center will form part of the trio of major cultural facilities, as it will be located next to Fiesp and almost directly across from MASP.
The approximately 1,300-square-meter plot was purchased in 2025 for about 49 million reais. It is worth noting that the Itaú Foundation itself will cover the costs, without relying on government incentives such as the Rouanet Law.
The plot is one of the last available lots in the Paulista area. Construction is scheduled to begin with a major 30-meter excavation for the basements. Although Itaú has not yet announced the start date for construction, the inauguration of the new headquarters is scheduled for 2031.
What can we expect from the new Itaú Cultural headquarters?
The project designed by Estúdio Módulo calls for 19 floors, with 11 above street level and 8 below ground. In fact, the studio was selected through a competition involving six major architectural firms.
Led by Marcus Vinicius Damon, Guilherme Bavin, and Erica Tomasoni, Estúdio Módulo is also responsible for the Rio-AfricaCultural Center in Rio de Janeiro.
The idea is to transform the basement into the cultural center’s performance hub, housing the theater with approximately 428 seats and the auditorium with 104 seats. The upper floors will feature galleries, studios, cafes, and restaurants, as well as other communal spaces distributed across the floors
The concept of a “vertical cultural center” involves “stacking” the building’s cultural uses. Thus, visitors have an ascending experience and explore the attractions from the theater in the basement to the galleries on the upper floors.
And how will operations proceed during the transition?
Currently located at 149 Paulista Avenue, Itaú Cultural will remain fully operational until construction of the new headquarters is complete. In fact, even after the move in 2031, the future of the current property remains uncertain.
