Laurent Troost is a Belgian architect with a vast history of projects in the Netherlands, Spain, and Dubai. He made the decision to move to Brazil in 2008, settling in the city of Manaus. In this region filled with challenges and inspiration, Troost developed a unique architectural practice by combining his experiences in designing luxury buildings abroad with structures in the heart of the Amazon. His work gained international recognition and has been honored with multiple awards. On September 4th, 2023, he was in Florianópolis for a lecture at the NCD Summit, where we had the opportunity to discuss his work and his views on architecture and sustainability.
Eduardo Souza (ArchDaily): As a European who came to Brazil to work in architecture, what were the main challenges and lessons learned?
Laurent Troost: One of the first things was that I couldn't start practicing architecture as soon as I arrived due to the diploma validation process. This took some time, and in the meantime, I analyzed and observed local architecture, and attended academic events to learn about the history of Brazilian architecture, first in Manaus and later in São Paulo. It took five years to receive the diploma validation. So, I always like to say, especially when I speak at CAU (Brazilian Council of Architecture and Urbanism), that I practiced architecture illegally during this time because I couldn't afford to not work. But, of course, during this period, it was slower, and I was able to research a lot and immerse myself in Brazilian culture.
