When it opened in 2022, the Rosewood São Paulo ushered in a new era of design innovation in Brazil. Conceived by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Jean Nouvel and industrial architect and designer Philippe Starck, the ambitious project transformed the former Matarazzo Maternity hospital, a local landmark, into an artful celebration of Brazilian craftsmanship. Instantly recognizable for its new Mata Atlântica Tower, covered in a lush vertical garden, the hotel helped set the tone for the city’s burgeoning Cidade Matarazzo community, founded by French entrepreneur Alexandre Allard.
A work by Tarsila do Amaral graces one of the bedrooms. Photo: Matthieu Salvaing
“Cidade Matarazzo is, above all, the expression and crystallization of Alexandre’s beautiful vision of the power of Brazilian creativity, the power of its roots, and all its history,” says Starck. “We are not talking about architecture or design; we are simply talking about the soul of a people, the soul of a society, the soul of a civilization.”
More than 50 of the country’s artisans and artists created nearly 500 site-specific works that punctuate the Rosewood’s lavish interiors by Starck. Inspired by the circa-1922 Chapel of Santa Luzia, which is preserved on the property, Vik Muniz conjured glass rosettes that pay homage to the structure’s original windows. Drawings by emerging talent Virgílo Neto, frescoes by Cabelo, and hand-painted tiles by Sandra Cinto add vibrancy to public areas awash in warm woods and sumptuous leathers, with neutral shades of whiskey, Cognac, and cream accented with pops of robust mustard yellow.
Sweeping views of São Paulo from the rooftop infinity pool.
Such an achievement naturally calls for an equally exceptional penthouse. Newly unveiled, the 12,000-square-foot accommodation, which sleeps eight, with four full baths, a kitchen, and an office as well as dining and lounge areas, is an unquestionable masterpiece. A floating spiral marble stair serves as the focal point of the 25th-floor suite. Throughout, a carefully curated collection of artworks by Tarsila do Amaral, Oscar Niemeyer, and Jean-Baptiste Debret, among others, celebrates Brazilian culture and includes photography, sculpture, painting, and craft. Rich woods and refined millwork also nod to the local heritage. “The aim of this place is to be 100 percent Brazilian, so everything is made by Brazilians; the wood, the stone, and fabric are all local,” says Starck. “You can see it, but you can also feel it. This place is designed to reveal Brazilian talent.”
“This place is designed to reveal Brazilian talent”
Philippe Starck
Double-height glass doors open to a hidden garden by landscape designer Benedito Abbud, who planted emerald-green foliage native to the surrounding rainforest. Nearby, an infinity pool offers views across bustling Avenida Paulista. The thoroughfare recently welcomed a new cultural center, Casa Bradesco, which debuted in September with the Anish Kapoor exhibition “Inflamação,” featuring a new piece made specifically for the institution.
The eat-in kitchen features wood, stone, and fabric from Brazil. Photo: Matthieu Salvaing
“It is the utmost honor and privilege to have had some of the leading figures in architecture and design contribute to our hotel’s breathtaking design story,” says Edouard Grosmangin, Rosewood’s regional vice president of Mexico and South America. “Starck’s and Nouvel’s distinctive styles have come together seamlessly across the hotel, and the unveiling of this penthouse is truly the crown jewel.”
A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2024 Collectors Issue under the headline “Kindred Soul.” Subscribe to the magazine.
