paulo mendes da rocha exhibits technique and imagination at the triennale

the display places the brazilian architect's extensive catalog of works within their social, political and historical context, charting the progression of a career that spans more than fifty years.

philip stevens May 5, 2014 2 min

from now until august 31, 2014, at milan’s triennale design museum an exhibition illustrating the works of paulo mendes da rocha opens its doors to the public. curated by daniele pisani, the exposition pays homage to the pioneering brazilian architect who is widely accredited with transforming his home city of sao paulo, and more recently received the prestigious pritzker architecture prize in 2006. the display places mendes da rocha’s extensive catalog of works within their social, political and historical contexts, charting the progression of a career that spans more than fifty years.

paulo mendes da rocha technique and imagination triennale designboom
municipal stadium serra dourada, goiânia (goiás), 1973 (p. 196-97)
imag © leonardo finotti | main image © designboom

starting with some of the fundamental principles that define his work, the exhibition at the triennale design museum documents the meticulous approach that is undertaken before each project, with a particular emphasis on hand-sketching and drawings. intricate technical plans are presented alongside the original sketches that informed them, as well as personal drawings that depict a range of different subjects – often entirely removed from the field of architecture. these images are accompanied by period photographs taken in recent years specifically for the monograph, edited by daniele pisani and published by electa.

paulo mendes da rocha technique and imagination triennale designboom
casa francisco malta cardoso, morumbi, são paulo 1963 (p. 108-109)
image © leonardo finotti

ten project models, some of which have been crafted specially for the event, are displayed including one particular piece on loan from paris’ pompidou centre. many of the remaining pieces come directly from the architect’s office including 150 vintage photographs, 200 drawings, and a series of videos made especially for the exhibition. ‘technique and imagination’ runs until the end of august, 2014.

paulo mendes da rocha technique and imagination triennale designboom
gallery space within the triennale museum
image © designboom

paulo mendes da rocha technique and imagination triennale designboom
ten project models are displayed, some of which have been crafted specially for the event
image © designboom

paulo mendes da rocha technique and imagination triennale designboom
a particular emphasis is placed on hand-sketching and drawings
image © designboom

paulo mendes da rocha exhibits technique and imagination at the triennale - 1
casa mário masetti, perdizes, sao paulo, 1967-70, views (p. 118)
image © leonardo finotti

paulo mendes da rocha exhibits technique and imagination at the triennale - 2
casa mário masetti, perdizes, sao paulo, 1967-70, views (p. 118)
image © leonardo finotti

paulo mendes da rocha exhibits technique and imagination at the triennale - 3
casa mário masetti, cabreúva, são paulo, 1994 (p. 310)
image © paulo mendes da rocha

paulo mendes da rocha exhibits technique and imagination at the triennale - 4
personal drawings depict a range of different subjects – often removed from the field of architecture
image © designboom

paulo mendes da rocha exhibits technique and imagination at the triennale - 5
150 vintage photographs document the architect’s attention to detail
image © designboom

paulo mendes da rocha exhibits technique and imagination at the triennale - 6
portrait of paulo mendes da rocha
image © designboom

paulo mendes da rocha technique and imagination designboom