Condomínio Penthouse
| Condomínio Edifício Penthouse | |
|---|---|
Penthouse Building and Paraisópolis in 2004 | |
Interactive map of the Condomínio Edifício Penthouse area | |
| General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Type | Residential |
| Location | Avenida Giovanni Gronchi, 3891, Vila Andrade, São Paulo, Brazil |
| Coordinates | 23°36′51″S 46°43′51″W / 23.61417°S 46.73083°W |
| Completed | 1979 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 13 |
| Design and construction | |
| Developer | Construtora Lindenberg |
Condomínio Penthouse is a residential high-rise building located in the Vila Andrade neighborhood of São Paulo, Brazil. Inaugurated in 1979 by the Lindenberg construction company[1][2], the building is known for its luxurious apartments with spiral private pools on the balconies. It stands out for its stark contrast with the nearby Paraisópolis community, making it a notable symbol of social issues in Brazil.[3][4]
History
The Condomínio Penthouse was designed as a high-end residential development, with 13 units — one apartment per floor and a two-story penthouse. Each unit has approximately 355 m² (3,820 sq ft), featuring large balconies with private swimming pools, which was an architectural innovation at the time. Its spiral-shaped structure make all units like a penthouse apartment.[5]
The building is located next to Paraisópolis, one of São Paulo’s largest favelas. Photos of the apartment and its surroundings, including one taken by pt:Tuca Vieira in 2012 for the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo are continually reproduced in books, magazines and educational material as a symbol of inequality. Vieiria's picture was on the posters, invitations, leaflets, and postcards of the exhibition Global Cities, in 2007 at the Tate Modern.[6][7][8]
The Penthouse Building has faced poor condominium management, resident debt, and unpaid property taxes (IPTU).[9][10] Some units were eventually auctioned off below market value.[11]
In Popular Culture
The building was an exterior filming location for the Brazilian soap opera A Próxima Vítima, broadcast by TV Globo in 1995. In the show, the character Helena, played by Natália do Vale, lived in the Penthouse.[12] The building appeared in the opening scene of the 2025 remake of Vale Tudo.[13]
See also
References
- ^ "'Quem a polícia defende? De que lado está?', questiona autor de foto símbolo da desigualdade no Brasil" (in Portuguese).
- ^ "Ricos de um lado, pobres do outro: fotos aéreas mostram desigualdades no mundo" (in Portuguese).
- ^ "São Paulo: imagem de injustiça" (in Portuguese).
- ^ Mammì, Lorenzo (4 December 2019). "paraisopolis" (in Portuguese).
- ^ "Domingo Espetacular entra no prédio dos livros de Geografia que hoje exibe marcas de abandono". Domingo Espetacular (in Portuguese). March 24, 2024.
- ^ "A fronteira entre a favela de Paraisópolis e o bairro do Morumbi gerou uma das mais impactantes imagens sobre a desigualdade brasileira" (in Portuguese).
- ^ "Picturing Inequalities".
- ^ "Restructuring the Urban" (PDF).
- ^ "Prédio de luxo ao lado de Paraisópolis volta a viralizar por 'abandono': o que aconteceu com o lugar?". casavogue (in Portuguese). March 6, 2024.
- ^ Queiroz, Guilherme (February 16, 2024). "Prédio famoso pelo contraste com comunidade enfrenta dívidas e processos". vejasp (in Portuguese).
- ^ "Edifício Penthouse: o que causou sua decadência?". ucondo (in Portuguese). March 27, 2025.
- ^ "Penthouse: prédio luxuoso viralizado pelo estado de abandono fez parte de novela da Globo". O Globo (in Portuguese). March 7, 2024.
- ^ "Este edifício de SP é símbolo nacional da desigualdade; conheça sua história!". saopaulosecreto (in Portuguese). April 24, 2025.