Edifício Oceania is considered the most emblematic residential building in Salvador, Capital of the state of Bahia, Brazil. The building has become an icon for Salvador, so important that in 2008 it was listed by the Institute of Artistic and Cultural Heritage of Bahia and protected from demolition or alteration.
Once a Cinema, Casino and Bingo Hall, the iconic event space has remained mainly vacant for over a decade, being used sporadically for yearly Carnaval celebrations. Our project proposes to revitalise over 1000m2 of space, recovering the buildings original assets, exposing nine-meter-high windows and expansive balconies, offering unrivalled 270° panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, All Saints’ Bay (Baía de Todos os Santos) and the Farol da Barra lighthouse.
Our project proposes to deliver a boutique 22 room hotel, restaurant, bar and clubhouse, where Baiano’s, immigrants and curious explorers from around the globe can mix in spaces designed to encourage focus, play and collaboration. The clubhouse will comprise a large co-working space, library, gym and pool.
Once the founding capital of Brazil, Salvador is undergoing a vast regeneration fuelled by international and local investment. With tourist numbers expected to reach 10.5 million in 2022, an abundance of pristine beaches and rich cultural heritage - Salvador is reinforcing it’s reputation as the Heart of Brazil. Our project will revitalised this treasured local asset, defining an international cultural hub for Barra’s waterfront and solidifying it’s claim as the picture postcard of Salvador.
The rooms will be located to the North and South of the building, located across two floors. Ground Floor rooms will be double height, duplex apartments of 50m², with private balconies and original marble floors. On the floor above, 25m² studio's.
Every room will be carefully designed in collaboration with local artists, combining contemporary local materials, furniture and fixtures. Each will offer breathtaking views of the ocean with floor to ceiling windows.
Sleeps 4
Small Kitchen
Bathroom
Floor to ceiling windows
Private Balcony with sea views
Sofa Bed
Mezzanine
Sleeps 2
Small Kitchen
Bathroom
Floor to ceiling windows
Private Balcony with sea views
King Bed
Salvador de Bahia is one of the major points of convergence of European, African and American Indian cultures. Reflected in the arts, Salvador has found a way to create beauty, freedom and synthesis that belies the unequal power relations of social and economic life. As Salvador continues to innovate, we work to support the City’s inhabitants spirit of curiosity, creativity and celebration.
At the heart of House of Salvador will be a Clubhouse bringing together Baiano’s, immigrants and curious explorers from around the globe in spaces designed to encourage focus, play and collaboration. By gifting memberships for locals and promoting internationally, the Clubhousewill become a hub for curious minds, cultivating connections through a programme of workshops and events designed to expand perspectives and spark creativity. We believe in the spirit of Bahia: people are stronger than oppression and misery.
The restaurant will occupy the front of the building, with nine-meter heigh windows, flooding the space with sunlight and providing direct views of the Farol. The restaurant will extend onto a front balcony with plunge pool and year-round vista's of Salvadors magical sunset.
Building work began in the 1930s and was delayed due to the lack of construction materials caused by World War II, with the building finally completing construction in 1943. The architects originally imagined the waterfront would follow an urban design similar to Copacabana, however this was never realised and Edf. Oceania ended up alone on the horizon, one side completely blind and windowless.
At the time of design, a new, experimental architecture was emerging, traditional materials of stone, brick and wood made way for new construction techniques reliant on steel, concrete and glass, inspired by Modernist principles. Open interiors, lack of ornament were the design standard, made popular by the teachings of the Bauhaus school.
Over seventy years, the building has housed a casino, theatre, cinema, nightclub and bingo hall.
With its three vast balconies providing privileged views of one of Salvador’s largest postcards, the Barra Lighthouse, the building is strategically positioned to watch the sunrise and sunset. Today, there is no way to disassociate the image of Barra’s waterfront, Carnival, the Oceania Building and the Lighthouse itself. It is part of Salvadors identity.
