Architect and professor at FAU-USP, Eduardo de Almeida leaves a remarkable legacy in brazilian architecture
Submitted at Apr 14, 2026, 3:00 PM
Eduardo de Almeida (Ana Ottoni/Divulgação)
Architect Eduardo de Almeida passed away last Sunday (12), at 92, in São Paulo. The information was confirmed by his family. He had been hospitalized at Hospital Sírio-Libanês, but the cause of death was not disclosed. With a career spanning more than six decades, Almeida established himself as a leading figure in both professional practice and academic training.
A professor at the School of Architecture and Urbanism of the University of São Paulo (FAU-USP), he trained generations of architects and contributed to the development of architectural thought in the country. His work is recognized for its technical precision, constructive rationality, and pioneering use of metal structures in houses.
Born in 1933 in São Paulo, Eduardo Luiz Paulo Riesenkampf de Almeida showed an early interest in the arts. He graduated from FAU-USP in 1960, a period of intense intellectual ferment that shaped his critical view of architecture.
In the early years of his career, he opened the office Horizonte Arquitetura alongside Ludovico Martino, Arthur Fajardo Netto, Dácio Ottoni, and Henrique Pait. The experience contributed to the development of a language based on structural clarity and technical experimentation.
In 1962, he received a scholarship to study design and art history in Florence, Italy. Back in Brazil in 1967, he was invited to teach at FAU-USP. Initially responsible for the industrial design course, from 1972 on he devoted himself to teaching building design.
Eduardo de Almeida (Lalo de Almeida/Divulgação)
Over more than three decades, he completed a master's degree and a doctorate, supervised dozens of dissertations and theses, and contributed to the training of professionals. He retired from academia in 2000, maintaining occasional participation in lectures and academic events.
In parallel, between 1977 and 1986, he partnered with architect Arnaldo Martino, a period in which he developed projects marked by the expressive use of metal structures. After the partnership ended, he pursued an individual career, occasionally collaborating with architects from younger generations.
Recognized in the field, he received awards and honors for his body of work, granted by institutions such as the Brazilian Institute of Architects (IAB) and the International Architecture Biennial of São Paulo.
Although residences were the focus of his work, Eduardo de Almeida also made significant contributions to institutional and corporate projects. Among them, the following stand out:
The Gemini Buildings were conceived to meet the demand for low-cost, quick-to-execute multifamily housing. The project resulted in a modular system with a cast-in-place concrete structure and industrialized components, allowing replication on different sites.
Edifícios Gemini (Refúgios urbanos/Divulgação)
Organized into blocks assigned to different functions, the José L. Niemeyer dos Santos residence ensures visual continuity between the projects. Built with exposed concrete and prefabricated slabs, it exhibits an aesthetic influenced by architect Carlos Millan.
Residência Jose L. Niemeyer dos Santos (Júlio Abe Wakahara/Divulgação)
Designed in partnership with Arnaldo Martino, the Oppenheim House marks a milestone in the use of metal structures combined with exposed brick masonry. The project is organized around a central courtyard, promoting natural lighting and ventilation. The living room with a double-height ceiling and the placement of the service area above the garage demonstrate innovative solutions for the time.
Casa Oppenheim (Divulgação/Divulgação)
Among the institutional works, a highlight is the SAP Labs Brazil building, located in the Tecnosinos Technology Park in São Leopoldo (RS). Developed in partnership with architect César Shundi Iwamizu, the project has about 10,000 m². Although initially conceived with a metal structure, it was executed in reinforced concrete, maintaining the spatial organization in two parallel blocks linked by a landscaped courtyard.
SAP Labs Brazil (Divulgação/Divulgação)
In partnership with architect Rodrigo Mindlin Loeb, Almeida designed the Brasiliana Library at the University of São Paulo. With more than 20,000 m², the building houses the collection donated by the bibliophile José Mindlin and the Institute of Brazilian Studies (IEB), as well as a bookstore, café, exhibition rooms, and an auditorium. The project incorporates sustainable solutions aimed at preserving the books, such as natural lighting, facades with perforated panels, and provisions for photovoltaic energy generation.
Biblioteca Brasiliana Guita e José Mindlin (USP) (Marcos Santos/USP Imagens/Divulgação)
Eduardo de Almeida's legacy goes beyond the materiality of his works. His contribution to teaching and to Brazilian architectural thought consolidated an approach based on technical precision, conceptual clarity, and the valuation of construction processes.
Eduardo de Almeida (Lalo de Almeida/Divulgação)
Aligned with the principles of the so-called Paulista School, his work evidences structural rigor and honesty in the use of materials, while also showing openness to innovation. In addition, his pioneering use of metal structures in residences reinforces his relevance on the national architectural scene.
