Art Déco Bandstand

The Bandstand was designed by the local engineer and architect Jorge Felix de Souza, who also designed the Goiânia Theater (the city's first theater, in the Art Deco style). It was part of the original Civic Square project, where the state government palace (Palácio das Esmeraldas) is located, which served as the main axis and urban center of Goiânia. The Bandstand was inaugurated during the city's founding in July 1942 and was quickly embraced as an architectural landmark, a venue for public gatherings, demonstrations, and cultural events, being one of the only open and covered structures in the square. The architectural style of the Bandstand is Art Deco, in harmony with other elements and buildings around it, mostly institutional, both inside and outside the square's boundaries. With the advent of technology and urban growth starting in the 1950s, the Bandstand's structure lost its primary social role. However, in Goiânia, it still maintained a connection with the urban context and the population, which was not enough to prevent the structure from suffering damage. By the 1960s, it was clearly neglected, facing vandalism and structural issues due to exposure to the elements. The lack of consistent maintenance work or occasional refurbishment projects contributed to this situation. In an attempt to change this reality, efforts were made to give the building a new social function, with an intervention project led by architect Cirineu de Almeida. In the early 1970s, the Bandstand was transformed into a tourist information office, reflecting political ambitions to promote tourism in the city and the attempt to give the building new significance within the context of the square.