Era – para quem desembarcava no porto do Rio de Janeiro depois de 1930 – a primeira incontornável referência visual. O grande edifício […] era a prova de que a cidade afamada por sua beleza natural tinha também outras credenciais para apresentar-se como um centro urbano moderno e civilizado.
The text above is an excerpt from Marcos Castrioto Azambuja's opinion on the heritage listing of the Edifício Joseph Gire. Many people may not recognize it by that name, but if we mention the "A Noite" Building, the mind will quickly travel to a building at nº 7, Praça Mauá, the 1st skyscraper in South America.
Image taken from https://bndigital.bn.gov.br/artigos/memoria-inauguracao-da-radio-nacional/
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of an urban scene. On the left side, we see historic buildings with sloped roofs and ornate architecture. In the center, there is a square with trees and a few people walking. On the right, a large modern building with many windows and antennas on top. In the background, other buildings and a rounded structure are visible.Built on the site where the Liceu Literário Português once operated, the “A Noite” building got its popular name precisely because, when it was inaugurated in 1929, it housed the headquarters of the newspaper “A Noite” – a periodical founded in 1911 by Irineu Marinho. The newspaper's sign, fixed on the highest floors of the 22-story building, ended up defining the structure, which was designed by architects Joseph Gire – who also designed the Copacabana Palace and the Hotel Glória – and Elisiário Bahiana, in Art Déco style and built in reinforced concrete.
The building is a landmark of modern architecture in Rio. After its construction, the city underwent a process of verticalization that changed its landscape. Until the construction of A Noite, the buildings on Av. Central — now Rio Branco — had, at most, 8 floors. And it was from the lookout point, on the terrace of the building over 100 meters tall that caught the attention of anyone passing through the area, that one could get a privileged view of the city and Guanabara Bay.
Image taken from http://bndigital.bn.gov.br/artigos/a-noite/
Image description: The image is an old newspaper, dated October 22, 1911, titled "A Noite Special Edition." It is in black and white. At the top, there is the newspaper's title and information about the special edition. The center features a large photo of a man flying in a balloon, with explanatory captions below. On the right, there is another photo of a balloon in flight. Below these main images, there are several other smaller photos, including people and buildings. Captions and text accompany these images, providing details about the event."A Noite" was also once one of the hubs of bohemian life in the early years of the 20th century. Starting in 1936, the then newly-launched Rádio Nacional occupied the building. Names like Emilinha Borba, Dalva de Oliveira, and Cauby Peixoto shone in the Radio's halls, which remained there until 2012.
In the coming months, the building that was Rio's tallest lookout point until the construction of Cristo Redentor (1931) will be auctioned off, kicking off the process of selling more than 3,000 federally owned properties to private enterprise.
