Edifício Copan, São Paulo Travel Guide

Edifício Copan, or simply Copan, stands as one of São Paulo's most significant and emblematic buildings, located on Avenida Ipiranga in the city center. Inaugurated in 1966, it is a symbol of modern Brazilian architecture, conceived by the renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer with structural design by engineer Joaquim Cardozo. The building was intended to celebrate the Fourth Centenary of São Paulo.Niemeyer's design aimed to create a building open to a mixed cross-section of Brazilian society, a 'city within a city'. The original project envisioned two buildings, including a hotel, but only the residential building was ultimately constructed. Construction began in 1952 but faced interruptions, finally concluding in 1966. Carlos Lemos assisted with the project's completion.The Copan Building is one of the largest in Brazil, featuring a 115-meter-high reinforced concrete structure. It comprises 32 floors and 120,000 square meters of built area, divided into six blocks. Inside, there are 1,160 apartments of varying sizes, accommodating an estimated five thousand residents from different social classes, along with over seventy commercial establishments.The building's name is an acronym for its original developer, Companhia Pan-Americana de Hotéis e Turismo (Pan-American Hotels and Tourism Company). The Copan Building has inspired writers, filmmakers, photographers, and other artists worldwide.