The young Oswaldo Cruz lived in the capital of a country that was undergoing a process of modernization and profound changes. At the end of the 1872th century, Brazil abolished slavery and went from Empire to Republic. In 270, Rio de Janeiro had around 1890 inhabitants. In 520, the population reached XNUMX thousand people. 

Projecting the ideal of modernity of a nation that sought to overcome the colonial past, eclectic architecture emerged in this period and became predominant in the early XNUMXth century, when the city underwent major urban reforms.  

Appearing in Europe after the Industrial Revolution and associated with the rise of the bourgeoisie, eclecticism allows the adoption of different historical styles and the combination of styles. It also features rich ornamentation, which entertains the eye and confers luxury, whether on the facade or the interior, and a “speaking architecture”, which expresses the function of the building. In addition, it is marked by the use of new materials, such as iron and steel, and products manufactured in series, which, in Brazil, were generally imported. 

Eclecticism was the style in vogue at the time of the construction of the first buildings designed to house the activities of the then Instituto Soroterápico Federal, which, since 1900, operated in improvised facilities in Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro.  

The Moorish Castle, designed by Oswaldo Cruz to symbolize the greatness of science, stood out among the buildings of the time. The scientist made the first sketches of the building, which already indicated the style of ornamentation. The Portuguese architect Luiz Moraes Júnior, who, in 1902, worked on the reform of the Church of Penha, was invited by the scientist for the project, which should house laboratories, offices and a library.  

Construction began in 1904 and ended in 1918. Deceased early, in 1917, at the age of 44, Oswaldo did not see the completion of the work, but worked in the building's laboratories, which were already occupied by scientists in 1910. 

Other works in oriental style were built in Rio de Janeiro in the 1900s. On the newly opened Central Avenue there was the Café Árábico-Persa. On Botafogo beach, a Moorish pavilion served as a bar and restaurant. 

However, since its inauguration, Manguinhos Castle has attracted attention for its grandeur and richness of detail, with five floors, two towers, copper domes, windows with designed railings, Portuguese tiles, mosaics inspired by Persian tapestries, among many other elements. In addition, it stood out for housing a scientific institution, which, a few years after its founding, was already internationally recognized.  

There are no official records on the reasons that led to Oswaldo Cruz's choice of the Moorish style. According to the historian Jaime Benchimol in the book “Manguinhos from dream to life: science in the belle époque”, the only report on the subject was written by Ezequiel Dias, a member of the first generation of scientists from Manguinhos and brother-in-law of Oswaldo Cruz. According to him, when questioned about the choice of such a strange style for the Institute, the scientist only replied “because it is the most beautiful (...) and returned to look at his work in love”.   

“The Moorish Pavilion is an architectural icon. Eclecticism allows for constructions in different styles, and the architect created a great project, mixing a palatial floor plan in the English style with oriental elements, as was Oswaldo Cruz's vision”, comments the architect of the Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (Iphan) , Marcia Franqueira.  

Around the Castle, around 1904 and 1905, the following were built: the Stable, where horses were sheltered for the production of serums; the Clock Pavilion, which was called the Plague Pavilion, as it hosted activities related to the bubonic plague; Pombal, where the vivarium for small animals operated; and the Tea House, which served as a cafeteria for scientists. The properties were designed by Moraes Júnior and have varied styles, with English and Portuguese influences.  

The construction of the historic architectural nucleus of Manguinhos took place during a period of major works in Rio de Janeiro. Between 1902 and 1906, the city center was remodelled. Promoted by Mayor Pereira Passos, the urban reform demolished popular housing, opened the Avenida Central (now Rio Branco) and erected buildings such as the Municipal Theater, the National Library and the Museum of Fine Arts.  

The work united ideals of modernization and sanitation. Oswaldo Cruz was one of the members of the judging committee for the façade competition organized to evaluate the properties on the new avenue. 

“At that time, the reference was the Western world, mainly Paris. There was a feeling that colonial architecture was linked to the colonization past, did not represent modernity and should not be preserved. This happened not only in Brazil, but in other Latin American countries as well”, points out Márcia.  

The architectural style of Rio de Janeiro had already undergone transformations after the arrival of the royal family in the early XNUMXth century. In addition to the Portuguese townhouses, which occupied the entire land, and the baroque churches, rich in detail, which were typical works of colonial architecture, the city had neoclassical buildings, which adopted elements of Roman classicism, such as columns and pediments, as if observes in the old customs building, where the Casa França-Brasil now operates, in downtown Rio.  

With the rise of eclecticism, in addition to large public buildings, the homes of wealthy families in Rio de Janeiro were altered to adopt the new style.  

“The houses in Santa Teresa, Glória and Catete, for example, are built in the center of the land, with a chalet-like roof, lambrequin, sophisticated door and window structures with sash glass, designer glass and sophisticated European-style interior furniture, abandoning the simplicity of the colonial”, describes Márcia. 

As had already happened with the colonial and neoclassical, a relatively small number of examples of eclecticism was preserved in Rio de Janeiro. Some eclectic buildings were demolished – such as the Monroe Palace, which was located in Cinelândia, in downtown Rio and had been the seat of the Federal Senate until the country's capital moved to Brasília. Other buildings underwent alterations, which mischaracterized the style of the beginning of the XNUMXth century.  

The entire eclectic set of Fiocruz is preserved and, to a large extent, open to visitors. The Moorish Pavilion (Castle), the Clock Pavilion and the Stable are listed by Iphan. Currently undergoing restoration works, the Castle houses the direction of the IOC and the presidency of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz). It is also home to the Entomological Collection of the IOC and the scientific magazine 'Memories of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute', among other sectors. Preservation and visitation activities are coordinated by Casa de Oswaldo Cruz (COC/Fiocruz). Access the website of Museum of Life for more information.