Revitalization of Oscar Niemeyer's Tea House / Bloco Arquitetos + Equipe Lamas

Revitalization of Oscar Niemeyer's Tea House / Bloco Arquitetos + Equipe Lamas - More Images+ 9

Praça dos Três Poderes, Brazil
  • Architects: Bloco Arquitetos, Equipe Lamas
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  250
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2019
  • Photographs
    Photographs:Haruo Mikami
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Gallery tapetes, MAIS VIDROS
  • Clients: Secretaria de Turismo do DF and Unesco
  • Equipe Lamas Lead Architect: Samuel Lamas
  • Bloco Arquitetos Lead Architects: Daniel Mangabeira, Henrique Coutinho and Matheus Seco
  • City: Praça dos Três Poderes
  • Country: Brazil
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© Haruo Mikami

Text description provided by the architects. Originally thought to be a place of meeting and rest, the Tea House designed by Oscar Niemeyer at Praça dos tres poderes Square was one of the busiest points in Brasilia in the '70s and '80s. The semi-buried construction with 250 m2 near the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, was a scene of festivities in the capital. Political interference and lack of tenant were responsible for the end of the meetings and for the consequent abandonment. In 1994, the space became a Tourist Assistance Center (CAT), which was open for six years but closed because of the risk of the roof collapsing. 

© Haruo Mikami
Floor Plan
© Haruo Mikami

It was closed for 10 years and reopened in 2010 again as CAT after a structural reform. The house currently caters to visitors and tourists who circulate every day through the Three Powers Square. The Secretariat of Tourism and Unesco recently invited the BLOCO team of architects to do the curatorship of CAT who chose the architect Samuel Lamas to sign the furniture of the space. The goal was to restore Oscar Niemeyer's project, honoring the past, and furnishing space with contemporary pieces that connect with the capital's aesthetic and modernist spirit. 

© Haruo Mikami

The white marble of the floor and walls was revitalized, the window frames cleaned, ceiling and pillars received a new layer of paint with the colors of the original design. The ambiance includes a central seating so that the visitor can enjoy the space and monuments with a set of sofas and armchair "Sonia", coffee table and bench "Ruy" and side table Caroline. The Reception received a Deia couch, a Sandra armchair, a Jamile coffee table, and a "Janice" side table. A space reserved to present the city to tourists with maps and books gained a Caroline table, "João" chairs and "Carlos shelf ". 

© Haruo Mikami

With simplicity and architectural reasoning, the furniture that bears names typically Brazilian, have delicate metallic profiles that reach the maximum lightness without compromising the functionality. The use of geometry and pure forms are explored in the products: iron bars appear as if they were loose columns in space and tied together by other profiles. The surfaces are of wood and the tapestry in natural leather in earthy tones.

© Haruo Mikami

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Project location

Address:Praça dos Três Poderes - Brasília, DF, 70100-000, Brazil

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Revitalization of Oscar Niemeyer's Tea House / Bloco Arquitetos + Equipe Lamas" [Revitalização da Casa de Chá de Oscar Niemeyer / BLOCO Arquitetos + Equipe Lamas] 03 Jul 2019. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/920118/revitalization-of-oscar-niemeyers-tea-house-bloco-arquitetos-plus-equipe-lamas> ISSN 0719-8884

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