In this episode, Arquicast pays tribute to Ruy Ohtake, an internationally renowned São Paulo architect with an impressive portfolio of built projects and the mind behind some of the most iconic buildings in the city of São Paulo. Ruy passed away in November 2021 at the age of 83. To help us trace the life and professional trajectory of this son of Japanese immigrants, we invited three prominent figures—leading authorities on Ohtake's work, his context within the history of Brazilian architecture, and the distinctive traits of his striking personality. Joining the conversation are architects Abílio Guerra, Renato Anelli, and Rodrigo Queiroz.
The son of Japanese-Brazilian artist Tomie Ohtake, a singular figure in the visual arts and a fundamental influence on his intellectual and creative upbringing, Ruy graduated from FAU-USP in 1960. Within this milieu, his architectural thinking, as several articles point out, was primarily shaped by Vilanova Artigas, under whom he studied, and his friend Oscar Niemeyer, with whom he shared experiences and worldviews.
