Brazilian architecture studio Nitsche Arquitetos has completed the renovation of Pinheiros and Faria Lima stations on São Paulo Metro’s Line 4-Yellow, introducing a clearer visual identity, modular timber retail kiosks and enhanced wayfinding while revealing the stations’ original Brutalist concrete architecture.
The retrofit responds to years of accumulated signage, commercial installations and visual clutter that had gradually diminished the passenger experience. Rather than altering the stations’ structural character, the architects simplified the interiors to improve navigation, comfort and spatial clarity.
“The two selected stations shared similar issues: visual clutter, excessive commercial stimuli and retail units that had been introduced over time without consistent design criteria,” said studio co-founder Lua Nitsche.
“The main objective of the retrofit was to reorganize these elements and improve the overall passenger experience by creating clearer, more coherent and more comfortable environments.”
Exposed Concrete and Colour-Coded Wayfinding Redefine the Passenger Experience
Nitsche Arquitetos removed unnecessary screens and redundant signage, revealing the exposed concrete structure that defines both stations. Meanwhile, worn tile surfaces, particularly at Pinheiros Station, were replaced with chromatic wall panelling that introduces a more cohesive visual language.
At Pinheiros, the panels transition gradually from blue at the upper levels to yellow deeper underground, reflecting the connection between Line 4-Yellow and Line 9-Emerald. In addition, bright yellow wayfinding elements strengthen navigation while maintaining continuity with the metro system’s existing colour palette.
The architects also integrated LED lighting throughout the stations to improve visibility and reinforce orientation within the expansive underground spaces. Furthermore, multimedia displays were consolidated into large curved partitions positioned alongside staircases, reducing visual clutter while preserving passenger information.
Although interventions at Faria Lima Station were less extensive due to its smaller scale, the renovation introduced new chromatic panelling, upgraded platform walls and improved lighting within the station’s connecting tunnel. The station serves approximately 35,000 passengers daily, compared with around 110,000 at Pinheiros.
Modular Timber Kiosks Bring Flexibility and Sustainability to the Metro Network
Across both stations, the architects replaced fragmented retail structures with a standardised system of modular kiosks constructed from engineered eucalyptus timber. Designed with simple geometric forms and garage-style doors, the units can be relocated or arranged according to operational needs.
“Because timber is significantly lighter and less dense than steel, installation could be carried out manually without the need for large machinery, which would have been difficult to bring into the stations,” said Lua Nitsche.
“The environmental benefits are also significant. The timber used in the retail units and kiosks stores approximately 34.9 tonnes of CO₂ in Pinheiros Station and 26.2 tonnes in Faria Lima Station, demonstrating timber’s potential as a low-impact construction material,” she continued.
“From a design perspective, we were interested in creating a dialogue between the warmth and tactility of wood and the exposed concrete that defines the stations’ original architecture. Rather than competing with the existing structure, the timber elements help reveal and emphasize it.”
Construction took place while both stations remained operational, with much of the work completed overnight to minimise disruption to commuters.
“We hope the stations demonstrate that high-capacity public infrastructure can also be welcoming, legible and human-centred,” she said.
The renovation illustrates how targeted architectural interventions can modernise public transport infrastructure while preserving its original identity. By combining improved wayfinding, sustainable materials and a more coherent visual language, Nitsche Arquitetos has delivered a people-focused upgrade that enhances one of São Paulo’s busiest metro corridors.