Contacto Atlântico opens first international office in São Paulo

Portuguese architecture firm Contacto Atlântico has opened its first international office in São Paulo, Brazil. Founded in 1996 by architect André Caiado, the firm brings three decades of experience in residential, corporate, commercial, and urban rehabilitation projects.

The firm’s debut in Brazil is located in the Pinheiros neighborhood, near Largo da Batata. Their first project consists of eight high-end houses designed as a low-rise alternative to the intense verticalization characteristic of the area.

The expansion follows international recognition for the firm, which won the DNA Paris Design Awards 2026 in the Architecture/Rehabilitation category for the Zara Rossio project in Lisbon. Contacto Atlântico specializes in retrofitting and preserving built heritage by adapting historical buildings to new uses while maintaining their original identity.