From Hospital to Green District: Cidade Matarazzo, São Paulo

How a historic hospital complex became a 30,000 m² mixed-use district that blends heritage preservation, urban regeneration, and integrated green spaces.

Photo credit: Eduarda Luft

A Historic Corner Reimagined

In a megacity known for its dense urban fabric, Cidade Matarazzo introduces a different kind of urban experience. Starting from an existing hospital building that was carefully preserved, the site has been transformed into a modern district designed to bring life, greenery, and cultural activity to a historic corner of São Paulo. Covering 30,000 square meters, the district now hosts retail, culinary experiences, and cultural spaces, a multi-use hub inaugurated in 2022 that showcases what thoughtful urban regeneration can achieve at the scale of a single site.

Photo credit: Eduarda Luft

Inspired by Local Biodiversity

Green spaces in Cidade Matarazzo are planted exclusively with native species from the Mata Atlântica rainforest, a forest system stretching along Brazil’s eastern coast and home to unique wildlife and high levels of endemism. The integration of this local flora is not purely aesthetic; it creates a sense of place and connects the urban environment to its natural heritage. While the project is not a scientific restoration, these green spaces enhance microclimates, provide privacy for tenants, and contribute to a calming and visually pleasant urban landscape: a thoughtful example of aligning human design with the surrounding environment.

Materials, Technology, and Local Sourcing

Construction focused on low-carbon materials, upcycling, and sourcing every component locally from Brazil. Advanced technology enables improved energy monitoring and water management, showing how modern systems can complement regenerative urban thinking.

“We have a responsibility to practice regeneration in the total production chain of Cidade Matarazzo,” said founder Alex Allard during the 2024 Expo Rivestir International Forum at the FIER+ auditorium.

Torre Mata Atlântica: Vertical Greening in Action

Photo credit: Eduarda Luft

The centerpiece of the district is the Torre Mata Atlântica, designed by Ateliers Jean Nouvel. Although it makes up only 10% of the complex, it continues the project’s focus on integrating greenery by filling empty spaces with native plants. Vertical greening offers both functional and aesthetic benefits: providing privacy, softening the building’s presence, and contributing to a visually pleasant and calming urban landscape.

Implementing greenery on vertical surfaces requires careful planning. Plant species are selected with factors like wind exposure, sunlight, and growth patterns in mind, while structural and maintenance considerations are assessed through detailed modeling to ensure long-term feasibility. Cidade Matarazzo demonstrates that thoughtful design and engineering are essential when bringing nature into urban architecture.

Takeaway

Cidade Matarazzo is a project that shows how urban areas can preserve history while introducing greenery that respects local biodiversity, thoughtful design, and functional urbanism. The project is a reminder that even in dense cities, we can create spaces that feel alive, restorative, and connected to the natural world.

Credit & Sources:

• Image courtesy of: Architect Eduarda Luft

• https://7wondersfc.com/participants/cidade-matarazzo

• https://darcawards.com/portfolio/cidade-matarazzo-brazil/

• https://en.exporevestir.com.br/news/devemos-regenerar-com-beleza-afirma-fundador-da-cidade-matarazzo-alex-allard-no-fier-arquitetura

• https://www.archdaily.com/1021657/landscape-deign-of-torre-mata-atlantica-benedito-abbud-arquitetura-paisagistica