PRESS RELEASES
The new hotel is committed to preserving Brazil’s natural environment with sustainability as a guiding principle
October 28, 2022
Rosewood São Paulo, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts’ first property in South America, is a metropolitan oasis set within the historical enclave of Cidade Matarazzo, a complex of elegantly preserved buildings from the early 20th century. Anchoring this 30,000 square-meter mixed-used lifestyle hub, Rosewood São Paulo occupies the city’s historic former hospital, Matarazzo Maternity, as well as a striking new vertical garden tower. This transformation of the heritage buildings is at the center of the development’s ethos and rooted in sustainability. Cidade Matarazzo proudly identifies as Brazil’s largest upcycling project, with a focus on celebrating and protecting the country’s cultural heritage and natural environment. By January 1, 2023, Rosewood São Paulo is set to operate with 100% renewable energy, making it Brazil’s greenest hotel to date.
One of the greenest developments in Brazil, Cidade Matarazzo has been constructed of 100% locally sourced, upcycled, and recycled materials. Sustainable measures executed in Rosewood São Paulo’s creation include the meticulous restoration of historical buildings and a biodiversity program. Beyond design and architecture, the property keeps sustainability at the forefront of all operations. With this commitment to achieving 100% renewable energy, responsible waste management, and by sourcing materials locally, Rosewood São Paulo serves as an example of a sustainable development model for the hospitality industry that fuses old and new.
The work of Rosewood São Paulo and Cidade Matarazzo, are representative of a larger movement in Brazil toward sustainability. A big country that is home to some of the earth’s most biodiverse ecosystems, Brazil is committed to the preservation of the planet for future generations. Through the increased use of green energy, the country has the opportunity to be net zero by 2030, offering a business model for how to achieve climate positivity.
“Respect for the environment and our natural surroundings is intrinsic to the Brazilian experience,” said Managing Director Edouard Grosmangin. “As part of our efforts to truly capture Rosewood’s guiding A Sense of Place® philosophy, we ensured our development both respected and pulled inspiration from Brazil’s ecosystems and biodiversity. Creating a positive impact on the local community is integral to Rosewood São Paulo’s mission, and we seek to lessen the ecological footprint wherever possible.”
Rosewood São Paulo’s Matarazzo Maternity building was painstakingly restored by architects to preserve the building’s heritage and joyful spirit while instilling a sense of fresh life into the renewed space. Matarazzo Maternity holds special significance to the city as over 500,000 Brazilians were born there, a legacy that is celebrated throughout its design. Complementing this ode to Brazil’s past, the property’s new vertical garden tower has been designed to celebrate the country’s bright future. This striking structure combines modern architecture with the exuberance of Brazilian nature to create a unique visual display. Covered in wood and wrapped in greenery, the vertical garden tower, known as the Mata Atlantica Tower, rises 100 meters into the sky and serves as a continuation of the Matarazzo gardens and a tribute to the neighboring park. In order to mimic and help preserve the surrounding rainforest’s biodiversity, over 250 species of native plants and trees have been planted across Rosewood São Paulo's complex, adding an element of biophilic design.
Guests and event planners will also have access to Cidade Matarazzo’s AYA building, which exists as a complex of offices and conference spaces in a unique, organic structure that is reflective of Rosewood São Paulo’s meticulous design. The building’s facade was created by French architect Rudy Ricciotti and was inspired by the look and structure of the Jagube vine, an Amazonian plant that has been used in the making of Ayahuasca tea for millennia. This tea has been used by indigenous people in South America in ancestral spiritual rituals, and by choosing both this inspiration and nomenclature both Cidade Matarazzo and Rosewood São Paulo hope to further establish their deep commitment to honoring the culture of their surroundings.
From an operations standpoint, Rosewood São Paulo has committed to utilizing only 100% renewable energy, and will achieve this goal by January 2023, just a year after the property’s opening. This goal will be made possible by the use of on-site solar panels and a long-term contract with Omega Energy, enabling the property to exclusively use green energy. To further lessen the impact of day-to-day operations, Rosewood São Paulo also maintains a waste management program wherein all solid and organic disposables are recycled. All disposable materials are part of a specific plan for reutilization that consists of a dedicated onsite biodigester and glass crushing machine. To manage this program, the hotel has signed a long-term agreement with Multilixo, a company associated with the Zero Waste Training Program, an international alliance aimed at helping businesses find sustainable solutions to waste management with the goal of collectively achieving zero waste. Through this partnership, Rosewood São Paulo has enrolled in Mutilixo’s “Zero landfill” program, which allows the property to quantitatively measure the success of its waste diversion efforts, which so far have been executed successfully. The hotel has seen a measurable decrease in waste and is continuing efforts to cut waste even further. Rosewood São Paulo is also free of single-use plastics and utilizes an in-house water filtration system to produce glass bottled water for guest consumption. In-room amenities are locally-sourced and packaged in recycled materials instead of plastic vessels. To further cut down on emissions, the property has also partnered with Jaguar Land Rover to offer hybrid vehicles are the property. Driven by Rosewood chauffeurs, these vehicles can be reserved by appointment by guests during their stay, overing a more environmentally conscious, luxurious and convenient way to explore the city.
Centrally located in the heart of São Paulo near the lively Avenida Paulista, Rosewood São Paulo is a metropolitan oasis set within the historical enclave of Cidade Matarazzo, a complex of elegantly preserved buildings from the early 20th century that have been carefully transformed into private residences, high-end stores and entertainment venues. Anchoring this 30,000 square-meter mixed-used lifestyle hub, Rosewood São Paulo occupies the historic former hospital, Matarazzo Maternity, as well as a striking vertical garden tower designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel. Rosewood São Paulo encompasses an immersive art collection featuring 450 works site-specific works created by 57 Brazilian artists. Featuring 160 guestrooms and suites and 100 Private Rosewood Suites available for purchase, the interior design of Rosewood São Paulo, led by artistic director Philippe Starck presents a sophisticated fusion of old and new through inspired elements and effects such as rich Brazilian woods, lush garden walls, and fine furnishings. In concert with the accommodations, Rosewood São Paulo’s extensive amenities include six restaurants and bars and two pools.
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts® manages a global collection of 30 one-of-a-kind luxury hotels, resorts and residences in 18 countries. Each Rosewood property embraces the brand’s A Sense of Place® philosophy to reflect the individual location’s history, culture and sensibilities. The Rosewood collection includes some of the world’s most legendary hotels and resorts, including The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel in New York, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas and Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel in Paris, as well as new classics such as Rosewood Hong Kong and Rosewood São Paulo. For those who wish to stay a little longer, Rosewood Residences offer a distinct opportunity for the ownership or rental of properties co-located with a Rosewood hotel or resort and of standalone for-sale residences. Rosewood Residences are defined by the brand’s commitment to Enriched Living through thoughtful details and experiences that enhance the quality of life while evoking a sense of discovery and inspiration.
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