Brazilian and Dutch architects to build in Brazil through matchmaking project

Last month Brazilian developer Idea! Zarvos and The New Institute from the Netherlands organized a follow-up workshop in São Paulo of their Brazilian matchmaking project. The five-day workshop featured the three Brazilian architects and the three Dutch architects that participated in the first workshop earlier this year in April.

The architects were grouped in pairs, with one Brazilian and one Dutch architect. All pairs were given a specific assignment to work on during the workshop.

• Brazilian office Andrade Morettin Architects and Dutch office MVRDV Architects were asked to design a new office tower in the Pinheiros district of São Paulo, one of the city's oldest urban areas.
• Maurer United Architects from the Netherlands was teamed up with Brazilian Nitsche Architects. They were asked to design a new interior for the office of the project developer.
• Dutch office Casanova+Hernandez Architects was teamed with FGMF Architects from Brazil, working on specific interventions in public space in the São Paulo middle class neighbourhood Vila Ipojuca. 

Dutch Minister of Education, Culture & Science Jet Bussemaker on a working visit to Brazil, met the architects during the workshop. They spoke with the minister about the differences between professional practices in Brazil and the Netherlands, how it is to work in Brazil, the difference in construction regulations between both countries and about the social dimensions of a private project in Brazil. After that, the minister was given a tour through the gallery of the developer where the architects explained different models. Lastly, the minister visited the adjacent neighbourhood Vila Madalena (part of the Pinheiros district) where Idea Zarvos! has developed various buildings.

The three designs were presented on the last day of the workshop. The audience consisted of the developer, the participating architects but also a few 'invited critics' such as Guilherme Wisnik (chief curator of the International Architecture Biennial in São Paulo), Bianca Antunes (editor Magazine aU - Architecture and Urbanism) and Giancarlo Latorraca (Director of Museu da Casa Brasileira, museum for design & architecture). After the presentations the developer announced that all Brazilian-Dutch teams were provided with continuing assigments. Moreover, the Dutch firm MVRDV received the offer to develop multiple jobs for the developer.

See also earlier news about the Brazilian matchmaking project for architects and the visit of Minister Bussemaker to Brazil