Courtyard of houses
Eccentric design.
EricaAzzellini — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Paulo SP/ Wikimedia — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Paulo SP/ Wikimedia — CC BY-SA 4.0 · EricaAzzellini — CC BY-SA 4.0 · EricaAzzellini — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Carlos Ebert from São Paulo, BrazilGRU — CC BY 2.0 · Carolina Mello — CC BY-SA 4.0
Vila Itororó is a strange housing complex in the Bela Vista district of central São Paulo, made up of a small mansion and thirty-seven houses, built between 1922 and 1929 by the Portuguese builder and merchant Francisco de Castro on steeply sloping land with no fixed architectural style. In 1978 the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper called it «a surrealist ensemble that follows neither the rules of utility nor set styles»: its owner assembled columns and ornaments bought from demolished buildings elsewhere in the city and stacked the houses around a shared courtyard, with the idea of residents occupying public space together. After decades of neglect, parts of the complex were restored and it became a municipal cultural centre, hosting workshops, music shows and family activities in a large warehouse. It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00, and entry to the warehouse and the courtyard of houses is free.
Eccentric design.
From lost buildings.
Workshops and shows.
Rua Maestro Cardim 60, Bela Vista, São Paulo
Museu Histórico da Imigração JaponesaThe Historical Museum of Japanese Immigration in Brazil is in Liberdade, São Pau7 minutes walk4.9
Casa de Dona YayáCasa de Dona Yayá is a historic house in the Bixiga district near central São Pa11 minutes walk4.6
LiberdadeLiberdade is São Paulo's Japanese quarter, in the city with the largest Japanese12 minutes walk
Centro Cultural São PauloThe São Paulo Cultural Centre is a public institution of the city's culture depa13 minutes walk4.6
Japan House São PauloJapan House São Paulo, on Avenida Paulista, is a cultural centre that presents J13 minutes walk4.7Yes, the warehouse and the courtyard of houses are free; some events are paid.