#6 - Alexandre Allard talks about Regenerative Real Estate

Today on DWE Talks we’re joined by Alexandre Allard, the visionary behind Cidade Matarazzo, an architectural mega-complex in the heart of Brazil’s sprawling megatropolis, Sao Paulo.

This architectural landmark stretches out over two blocks to include spectacular restaurants, hotels, residences and offices, an expansive art gallery which recently opened with an exhibition by Anish Kapoor, retail and a soon-to-be-opened center dedicated to health and wellness.

Cidade Matarazzo has been shaped from one of Sao Paulo’s most historic buildings, the Matarazzo maternity hospital which was testimony to the birth of nearly a million Paulistas.

This modern-day temple — almost 20 years in the making — holds some important clues to how urban design can be transformed by bringing nature back into the picture.

At the heart of this impressive urban forest are the offices of AYA Earth Partners — also founded by Allard — an organization that’s goal is to de-carbonize the Brazilian economy.

AYA Earth Partners is accelerating the transition towards regeneration away from business as usual, transforming the way business is done in the world’s eighth largest economy.

Alexandre Allard is a French businessman known for the creation and the sale of Consodata, and the restoration of the Palace-Hotel Royal Monceau in Paris, France.

After selling up he founded Groupe Allard in 2007, noted for more than a decade as instrumental in reviving symbols of heritage.

He has been celebrated multiple times for his achievements in business, including the 2022 Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the State of São Paulo.

Today we talk about the crucial role countries in the ‘global south’ like Brazil have to play to bring about the transition that will help us put nature back into balance before its too late and why its so important to start in cities.