The Restoration Process: The Burden and the Honor of Preserving

Well, this post will likely be a mix of technical details and complaints. Technical details, because I will try to explain the project's conception; and complaints, due to what I perceive as a lack of assistance from the competent public authorities.

The starting point for this journey was understanding what landmarking (tombamento) is and what it truly means for Bixiga. Most of our region is protected as city historical heritage—covering buildings, heights, vegetation, and views. But, as some may know, landmarking can range from the complete conservation of the entire structure to the protection of just the facade.

(Personal Footnote: The architect in charge, Akiko, was my boss many years ago on some São Paulo Metro projects. She is a great cultivator of my desire to undertake a business. And it was she who told me: "Ricardo, you don't have the profile of someone who will work for others. Look for something that makes you happy." And I did. Years later, I hired her for this hostel project.)

The Diagnosis, the Discovery, and the Two Fronts

The project began with a structural damage survey (in the form of technical drawings), detailed photographic reports, and historical research on the films and newspaper articles that had documented the mansion years ago.

The initial submission of the Restoration Project turned into a true archaeological endeavor. We relied on images of the original blueprints, which were found in an unrelated department of the São Paulo City Hall. This material, along with the photographic survey, the report on the house's historical importance, and the technical drawings, merged protection with the needs of modern life and allowed us to proceed with the two major work fronts:

1. Emergency Works: Covering holes in the roof, replacing glass, and shoring up floors that were collapsing.

2. Restoration Project: Yes, restoration. Our proposal was always to alter as little as possible to merely accommodate modern life and the hostel function.

In this post, we will focus exclusively on the emergency works, which only took place after meticulous studies of the house's structure.

Tracing the Facade

Unfortunately, the front facade no longer had any traces of the original finishes (removed in 2019, exposing the original bricks). However, we were fortunate that the "sister" houses on the block, built at the same time, still had the friezes, which allowed us to faithfully project and replicate those lost finishes.

It is at this point that the containment phase gives way to the reconstruction phase. The emergency works brought us relief and security, but the great challenge was just beginning: how to modernize the electrical and plumbing systems without damaging the centenary soul of the Peroba Rosa wood?