MASP – Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand – has announced the completion of construction on its second building, named Pietro Maria Bardi in honor of the museum’s first artistic director. As a way of preserving and valuing the history of the institution, and recognizing its three founders, the original building is named after its architect, Lina Bo Bardi . The new
14-story , 7,821 m² building , combined with the recent concession of the belvedere known as the free span, represents significant growth for the institution, doubling its area of operation from 10,485 m² to 21,863 m² as of March 2025. (Leonardo Finotti/CASACOR)
"This is a historic moment for the institution and for the city of São Paulo . These are two buildings that form a single museum. The Pietro building, together with the public activities in the open space and the generous spaces of the historic building, form a set that marks a new phase for MASP, which is becoming even more inclusive, diverse and plural", says Heitor Martins , CEO of MASP. (Leonardo Finotti/CASACOR)
The new MASP building increases its exhibition space by up to 66% . There are five new galleries for exhibitions, two multipurpose areas, classrooms, a conservation laboratory, a reception area, a restaurant and café, as well as storage areas and docks for loading and unloading works of art. (Leonardo Finotti/CASACOR)
Construction of the new building, which began in 2019, was entirely financed by donations from individuals , without the use of incentive laws. This practice reinforces the museum's historical characteristic of engaging civil society in its most diverse projects. “R$ 250 million was donated
for the construction of this building. The success of the fundraising is also the result of a management model implemented at MASP 10 years ago, which brought financial sustainability, transparency and professionalism to the institution,” says Alfredo Egydio Setubal, Chairman of the Board, MASP. (Leonardo Finotti/CASACOR)
For METRO, it was important to avoid large compositions on the façade in order to establish a harmonious relationship with the historic building. “We opted for a clean look , a homogeneous façade, so as not to create noise in this relationship. At the same time, the monolithic design, inspired by the typologies of vertical museums, such as those in New York, stands out from the surroundings, giving it its own character,” says Corullon. (Leonardo Finotti/CASACOR)
One of the main differences is the perforated and pleated metal sheet cladding , a solution that controls the incidence of natural light and reduces internal heating . This metal façade acts as a protective “skin” that reduces the thermal load and increases the building’s energy efficiency, relieving the pressure on the air conditioning system. (Leonardo Finotti/CASACOR)
There are several connections between the two buildings, such as the relationship between the museum and the urban environment through transparency. While the glass façade of the original building creates a visual continuity between the interior of the museum and Avenida Paulista, METRO’s project proposes a play of light and shadow. Upon entering the Pietro, visitors can observe the city and the Lina building itself through large openings that are only visible to those inside the building during the day. However, at night, these same windows reveal fragments of the building’s interior to the city. (Leonardo Finotti/CASACOR)
Another connection point is the 40-meter tunnel that connects the reception areas of the buildings. Scheduled for completion in the second half of 2025 , the underground passage will facilitate the movement of visitors , promoting the integrated operation of the two buildings and preserving the visual aspect of the urban landscape. The year 2025 will be dedicated to Stories of Ecology . The museum will promote exhibitions, courses, lectures, workshops, seminars and publications that invite reflection on urgent issues, such as the relationship between human beings and the environment, in dialogue with visual culture and artistic practices. 
