studio mk27 visit

studio mk27, sao paulo, brazil image © designboom

on a recent trip to sao paulo, brazil, designboom visited studio mk27 led by marcio kogan who represents the south american country at this year’s venice architecture biennale (see designboom’s coverage of the brazil pavilion here). located in the jardin area of the city, the three story building was one of kogan’s first projects. the concrete facade stands out from the neighboring structures with trickling overgrown ivy and an interactive chalk board found at street level. the corner entrance greets visitors with a suspended dripping detail which pays homage to its former residents.

dripping corner detail pays homage to the previous glass shop tenants image © designboom

messages from the community adorn the edifice image © designboom

reception area image © designboom

the main level, which was previously rented out to a glass shop, has been transformed into a reception area, meeting room, kitchen and patio to adapt to the growing practice of now 18 architects. the major presentations take place in the conference room which is one of three areas for assembly in the office and features a wall of drawings which kogan has personally collected and received from various architects, such as isay weinfeld and le corbusier over the years. the space opens onto a back deck which the staff occupies during lunch and where once a month, the studio entertains clients with parties catered by invited chefs.

conference room image © designboom

kogan’s collection of drawings image © designboom

detail of sketches image © designboom

(left) library with seating (right) stairway to second level image © designboom

the second level contains an informal meeting area which is positioned beside a linear horizontal shelving unit which divides the working space from the circulation zone. at the end of the floor is a meeting room which features stacks of publications that have published the studio’s work. encased in glass are models of birdhouses which were designed for an exhibition with fellow brazilian architect isay weinfeld that looked at the city with a critical objective.

model of birdhouse favela image © designboom

informal meeting area with campbell soup lighting image © designboom

image © studio mk27

work stations image © designboom

(left) publications featuring studio mk27’s work (top right) campari lighting (bottom right) detail of book shelf image © designboom

the third floor is where marcio kogan’s office can be found, along with the majority of the staff. similar to the level below, a long gallery separates the working spaces. the element contains a collection of miniature models which range from models of designers chairs to cars, pictures to figurines. the samples for the interior spaces, such as flooring and cabinetry are stored behind a large sliding door that occupies the back wall.

studio mk27 visit

architecture in brazil (407)

studio MK27 / marcio kogan (46)

studio visits (118)