Anyone arriving at Praça Mauá is dazzled by the architectural contrasts between Museu do Amanhã, MAR (Museu de Arte do Rio), and the Edifício Joseph Gire, better known as Edifício A Noite. It's an open-air museum showcasing all the architectural styles that made history in the city.
Image description: This is an image of a coastal city. On the left side, we see tall buildings with blue and beige façades. In the center, there is a large architectural complex with several structures of different sizes and shapes. In front of this complex, there is an open space with circles marked on the ground, surrounded by green trees. On the right, a large cruise ship is docked near the blue water. In the lower right, there is a modern structure with a curved roof.Aerial view of Praça Mauá. Rio de Janeiro, RJ - Available at: https://www.anf.org.br/praca-maua-reabre-neste-domingo-com-festa-e-atividades-gratuitas/
The gaze, however, settles on the large building on the Square. Built in the 1920s, between 1927 and 1929, it was for some time the tallest building in Latin America, inaugurating what was then called a "skyscraper." It has 24 floors in the style
art deco,
with a strong presence of Chicago School constructive principles and a terrace that offers a special view of Guanabara Bay.
Image description: This is an old aerial photograph of a city. On the left side, we see a large body of water, possibly a river or lake. Moving to the right, we see a densely populated area with buildings of different heights. A tall, rectangular building stands out in the center of the image. Further to the right, there is a structure that appears to be a stadium or sports complex. Along the coastline, we see several boats and bridges. In the lower right corner, there is an inscription that reads "27-09 E. AV.M. DISTRICTO FEDERAL - F. 26-300 9° 26-5-30".Aerial image of Praça Mauá with the Edifício A Noite in the foreground. Author unknown, 1930. Rio de Janeiro, RJ - Source: https://diariodorio.com/histria-do-edifcio-a-noite/
“It was — for anyone disembarking at the port of Rio de Janeiro after 1930 — the first unavoidable visual reference. The great building […] was proof that the city famed for its natural beauty also had other credentials to present itself as a modern and civilized urban center.” (Excerpt from Marcos Castrioto Azambuja's opinion on the landmark designation of the Joseph Gire Building).
Image description: This is a photograph of a building located in a city. On the left side, we see a series of trees and smaller buildings. In the center, there is a large multi-story building with a light-colored, detailed facade. On the right, other buildings and a line of trees are visible. The sky is clear and blue, and the river is in the foreground on the left.Edifício A Noite seen from Guanabara Bay - Author unknown, 2012. Rio de Janeiro, RJ - Wikimedia Commons.
Built on the site where the Liceu Literário Português used to operate, "A Noite" 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 upper floors of the 22-story building, ended up characterizing 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.
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a tall, modern building located at an urban intersection. On the left side, we see green trees and some people walking. In the center, there is a large building with many windows arranged in horizontal rows. On the right, there are also trees and more people walking. The building has the name "A Noite" written in large letters at the top.Image of the facade with the building's sign. Author unknown, n.d. Rio de Janeiro, RJ - Available at: https://diariodorio.com/histria-do-edifcio-a-noite/
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, eight floors. It was from the lookout point, on the terrace of the building with over 100 meters in height, that one could get a privileged view of the city and Guanabara Bay.
A Noite was also once one of the hotspots 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 hallways, and it remained there until 2012.
