Partially destroyed by a fire in 2015, the Museum of the Portuguese Language has undergone a lengthy restoration process and now has a date to reopen its doors: June 27, 2020. The announcement was made by state and municipal officials this Monday, December 16, during a visit to the site.
At the end of each year, we launch a call for submissions for graduation thesis projects from our readers in Portuguese-speaking countries. Through this, we aim to select the projects we find most interesting in order to share inspiring perspectives and discussions with our entire audience.
In this edition, we received 333 proposals from all over Brazil and several Portuguese cities. The selection of these projects is based on those we consider best presented, visually compelling, and whose theme we find thought-provoking and timely for a graduation thesis. More than simply delivering a satisfactory design, we believe that a final graduation project—by condensing the student's efforts during a transition period from academia to professional life (while, it is important to note, still being part of the academic journey)—must raise questions and spark discussion about the proposed theme.
It is worth noting that several submissions did not follow the guidelines and were either disqualified or provided insufficient material for evaluation.
Below is our selection* of the 32 best final graduation projects from Portuguese-speaking countries, accompanied by descriptions provided by their authors.
The benefits of urban vegetation are numerous and well known. In addition to shading public spaces and producing oxygen, trees and shrubs contribute to thermal comfort, by humidifying the air, and acoustic comfort, as they can be used as barriers to minimize noise.
On one side, an underground market; on the other, a restaurant and a cocktail bar. Terminus, as Paris's newest gastronomic center will be named, will repurpose a decommissioned subway station in the French capital's 6th arrondissement, with operations spanning both sides of the tracks.
On Wednesday evening, October 9, the late Briane Panitz Bicca—an architect and urban planner from Rio Grande do Sul widely recognized as a leading figure in the preservation of Brazilian historical and cultural heritage—was honored during the opening ceremony of the 21st Brazilian Congress of Architects (CBA).
The author of more than 30 books and a champion of cities for people, Danish architect Jan Gehl and his team of around 50 professionals have worked to free the centers of cities as diverse as Moscow, Melbourne, Shanghai, and New York from cars.
Romano Guerra Editora has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Catarse to reissue the celebrated book RINO LEVI – arquitetura e cidade. Based on Renato Anelli's doctoral dissertation, the book features iconographic research by a team led by Abilio Guerra and is filled with photography by Nelson Kon.
Energy-efficient projects are becoming increasingly relevant in the fight against climate change, especially considering that the building sector accounts for more than 40% of all electricity consumed in Brazil. While designing with bioclimatic strategies can be a challenge, LabEEE/UFSC, in partnership with the federal government, addressed the question of "how to achieve lower energy consumption and greater indoor comfort for users" by creating a free platform that offers various passive strategies tailored to the characteristics of each Brazilian city.
The Academia Paulista de Letras has elected architect Ruy Ohtake as its newest member, who will occupy seat number 39. The seat was previously held by fellow architect Benedito Lima de Toledo, who passed away in July of this year.
Developer Weefor has announced the results of its first open architecture competition, which aimed to select an architectural design for the company's first residential development in the city of Curitiba. The competition's grand prize winner is the firm Nachtergaele Navarro Arquitetos Associados, from São Paulo, whose project is scheduled to begin construction in the first half of 2020.
An Italian architect who adopted Brazil, broke down hierarchies between the arts, and shaped a new language of modernism—merging her own radical vision with references from Brazilian culture—will be the subject of an exhibition this April at MASP. In 2020, the show will travel to Mexico and the US.
Registration is open until October 28 for the National Architecture and Landscape Design Competition for the Redevelopment of the Arena BSB Sports and Leisure Complex, organized by IAB-DF and promoted by the Arena BSB Consortium. The competition's scope encompasses part of the Northern Public Recreation Sector (SRPN), adjacent to the Mané Garrincha National Stadium, the Nilson Nelson Gymnasium, and other structures, in the Administrative Region of Brasília – RA I, in Brasília.
Balneário Camboriú is the city with the highest concentration of buildings among the tallest in Brazil. Most of them, however, are still under construction, making the Infinity Coast Tower—inaugurated on the 14th of this month—the country's first completed residential building to be included on this list.
In early 2020, Rio de Janeiro will become the global stage for debates on contemporary cities and the future of urban environments. As host of the 27th World Congress of Architects, UIA2020RIO, the city also celebrates its designation as the first World Capital of Architecture by UNESCO and the International Union of Architects (UIA).
There are various ways to position a residence on a lot. It can be built along the side boundaries, set back from the rear or one of the sides, aligned with the street, or freestanding on the plot. Each strategy presents its own advantages and drawbacks. On smaller plots, introducing courtyards is an effective way to site a house, particularly for maximizing natural light and ventilation.
The governor of Espírito Santo, Renato Casagrande, signed a decree this week mandating the installation of solar energy harvesting systems in new state buildings. The law also applies to facilities constructed with state funds transferred to municipalities through agreements, accords, or covenants.
Eight months after the agreement was signed, São Paulo City Hall will finally assume ownership of the Parque Augusta site, which until now has been held by developers Setin and Cyrela. The signing of the deed will take place next Saturday, April 6, during a ceremony held on the site itself.
The design for a square in the village of Crasto proposes a new cultural, sports, and leisure space for this fishing community located on the southern coast of Sergipe. The project also addresses accessibility issues, interconnecting the new plaza with the pre-existing built environment.