Wearing masks with the faces of Oscar Niemeyer and Lúcio Costa, architects and urban planners swarmed the 50th Annual IAB (Institute of Architects of Brazil) Awards in Rio de Janeiro this week. The architects were protesting a contract the city government of Brasilia struck with a Singaporean firm to create an urban masterplan outlining the next 50 years of Brasilia's future.
Intending to create a new architectural reference for the region of Brasilia, the Multipurpose Complex becomes a new destination in the city. Designed by FGMF Arquitetos, the building creates a landmark in the landscape through the uses of retail, office buildings, and modular offices. More images and architects’ description after the break.
One of the most talked-about topics of the XXIV Pan American Congress of Architects (XXIV CPA), which took place this November in Maceió, Brazil, was the Brazilian Government’s controversial move to contract consulting company Jurong, based in Singapore, with designing a new Masterplan for Brasilia.
Jurong’s "Brasilia Plan 2060,” which was chosen by the government with no outside participation or input, was criticized not only by Brazilian architects and urban planners, but by the majority of American and European professionals present at the XXIV CPA.
President of the UIA (International Union of Architects), Albert Dubler, stressed that community participation must be a crucial part of any wide-scale urban planning endeavor such as this. "We can not solve the problems of Brasilia without consulting the public. You need governance. I cannot imagine how this dialogue will happen with Singapore.” Dubler continued: “To have an idea represents 5% of a project. The design,10%. But 85% of any project is to discuss it with people - to convince the public."
The primary condition for the first prize winning design of the new headquarters of Congresso Nacional dos Municípios (CNM) is the creation of a metropolitan area in line with the urban context of the city of Brasilia. Designed by Luis Eduardo Loyola and Maria Cristina Motta, the project is embodied along an axis in the form of a white metallic volume floating gently on a concrete basement. The transparency of the volume creates a special relation with their surroundings. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The multi-use office complex proposed by FGMF (Forte, Gimenes & Marcondes Ferras) Arquitectos for this 32.000m² lot aims at creating not only a new architectural reference for the region, but also a new destination for the city. Adding three different uses – retail, office buildings and modular offices – the new complex creates a landmark in the landscape, values the surroundings, and establishes a new shopping destination. More images and architects’ description after the break.
