Inaugurated on May 22, 1961, the Edifício Avenida Central, at Av. Rio Branco, 156, represents a landmark in Brazilian architecture, both for its pioneering use of architect Mies van der Rohe's modernist language and for being the first building in downtown Rio built with a steel structure. At the time of its inauguration, it was the tallest building in the city, with its 34 floors, 18 elevators, 12 escalators, and a heliport.
Construction of the Edifício Avenida Central. Source: Diário do Rio
Image description: The image is a black-and-white photograph of a building under construction. From the left side to the center, smaller, more distant buildings are visible. In the center, the main building is under construction, with scaffolding covering much of its façade. On the right, the main building continues to be built, with scaffolding still present. The background shows a line of trees and a green area.Designed by architect Henrique Mindlin, the Avenida Central was built with a steel, aluminum, and glass structure, replacing reinforced concrete. Another architectural innovation was the four-story base plus basement on which the tower housing 1,061 rooms was erected. With nearly 200 stores, the base has been occupied since its inauguration by a shopping center, now called Shopping Avenida Central, specializing in the sale of computer equipment and electronics. About 160,000 people, in addition to the 14,000 who work there, pass through the building daily, which stands next to the busiest subway station in downtown, located in Largo da Carioca. Besides customers and employees of the stores, restaurants, offices, and clinics, there are those who simply use the gallery that runs from the square to Rio Branco Avenue as a passageway.
Edifício Avenida Central in the 1960s. Source: Diário do Rio
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a modern building located in an urban area. On the left side, we see several smaller, older buildings, while the center features a large skyscraper with many windows arranged in horizontal rows. On the right, there are more low-rise buildings and green areas. In the background, it is possible to observe a cityscape with other buildings and a structure that appears to be a bridge or viaduct.Where the Edifício Avenida Central now stands, there used to be two symbols of Rio's Belle Époque, built in the eclectic, European-influenced architectural style of the time: the Hotel Avenida and the Galeria Cruzeiro. By the 1950s, the Hotel Avenida had lost much of its importance due to the city's dizzying growth and the new architectural trends. Thus, in 1957, as a result of the various modernizing policies undertaken during the JK years, the reinforced concrete building was demolished to make way for what was then considered a symbol of modernity. If in previous years classical European architecture had represented innovation, now it was the American model, with its skyscrapers, that was gaining followers among Brazilian engineers and architects.
Hotel Avenida in the 1920s. Photo by Augusto Malta. Source: Instituto Moreira Salles
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a building called "Hotel Avenida." The building occupies most of the image, with an elaborate, ornate façade. On the left side, there is a raised platform with a wooden structure, possibly for public transportation. In front of the building, there are large trees and a street with a few people walking. In the background, other buildings can be seen, including one with a taller tower.
