AdjacenciesoftheLightheadquarters–theFundiçãoIndígena,onCamerinoStreet

Having said that, let us go to Fundição Indígena. Marechal Floriano Avenue is very close to one of the most important regions in our city's history, since colonial times. Leaving the Light headquarters building and walking to the left, we soon reach the corner of Camerino Street (where the headquarters building of Colégio Pedro II is located) and if we turn left and continue, we will reach the current Praça dos Estivadores. Just ahead stood the Valongo wharf; that entire region was reclaimed. At the beginning of the 20th century, in the vicinity of the Light building, many industries were still located that progressively moved to the once imperial neighborhood of São Cristóvão. In the photograph, taken from one of the Light buildings in the direction of Camerino Street, we see the Conceição hill in the background and behind the hill, the building of the newspaper A Noite, in Praça Mauá – which was in its final phase of construction in reinforced concrete, becoming then the tallest skyscraper in Latin America. Marechal Floriano Avenue is very close to one of the most important regions in our city's history, since colonial times. Leaving the Light headquarters building and walking to the left, we soon reach the corner of Camerino Street (where the headquarters building of Colégio Pedro II is located) and if we turn left and continue, we will reach the current Praça dos Estivadores. Just ahead stood the Valongo wharf; that entire region was reclaimed. At the beginning of the 20th century, in the vicinity of the Light building, many industries were still located that progressively moved to the once imperial neighborhood of São Cristóvão. In the photograph, taken from one of the Light buildings in the direction of Camerino Street, we see the Conceição hill in the background and behind the hill, the building of the newspaper A Noite, in Praça Mauá – which was in its final phase of construction in reinforced concrete, becoming then the tallest skyscraper in Latin America.

Image description: This is a historic black-and-white photograph showing a dense urban landscape. From left to right, we see several houses with sloped roofs, some with smoke rising from their chimneys. In the center, there is a taller building, possibly a factory, with several windows and side structures. In the background, there is a hill covered with vegetation, where other buildings and a tower are located. To the right, the landscape continues with more buildings and a row of trees. In the lower left corner, there is a signature that appears to read "Alfa Mor."

And in the detail of the photograph, the sign of the Fundição Indígena is observed – inverted, as the photographer's point of view is behind that building. It is a beautiful and bold example of the application of a logo at the top of the facade; the letters are attached to thin wires, giving the impression that they float.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a city. From back to front, we see several buildings with tiled roofs, some with chimneys. On the left, there is a green area with trees. In the center, a taller building with a tower stands out. On the right, there are more buildings and a dotted structure in the background.

The Fundição Indígena, formerly Fundição Imperial, started in 1828 and established at rua Camerino 128, was then the oldest in the country. Awarded at the National Exhibitions of 1861, 1866, and 1900; at the London one of 1862 and those in Paris in 1867 and 1889, in addition to having received diplomas of honor, gold, silver, and bronze medals, and various honorary mentions... it was a proper foundry, anyway. It manufactured “machinery for agriculture and industry, all the material necessary for the construction of public and private buildings, bridges, gasometers, roofs, grilles, stoves, water reservoirs, boilers, water and gas piping” and much more! Not bad to have a neighbor like Light... which advanced into these same fields explored by the Fundição Indígena, when it built the Cidade Light – as we will see further ahead.

Image description: The image is a black-and-white postcard showing Fundição Indígena, located at Rua Camerino, number 150, in Rio de Janeiro. At the top, there is a logo with the company name prominently displayed. On the left, there is an illustration of a building with architectural details. In the center, the text mentions the services offered by the foundry, including iron and bronze machines, as well as awards received. The background is white, with horizontal lines for writing.