no one?

Hey, i was there 1 week ago. Brazilian architecture is really amazing, specially the way the tropicalized modernism. We went on a study trip to Sao Paulo, Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro. If you like, i can send you some pictures.

I've been there several times while I was going to architeture school in Brazil. The converted factories (fabrica, in portuguese) next to the buildings shown in these photos are also worth of visiting. Brutalism was (is) a big hit in Brazil.
Have you seen the work of Paulo Mendes da Rocha [2006 Pritzker Architeture Prize] and Vilanova Artigas?

brutalism is so god damn sexy

Its fantastic!! I was there in 2006, its unfortunate that she's not well known among young western architects. (At the base is also a long wooden deck which is seen on the cover of the book in your link), kind of like a long sidewalk in wooden slats, that people sun bathe on. Its pretty cool - under this brutalist aesthetic with no sand or water just that strip and people basking in swimsuits evoke almost a beach place. Only in Brazil!

The rest of the complex is a converted factory now a community center with a library, theater space and a huge cafeteria with seating, shelves, benches, tables and chairs furniture designed by her as well. Programatically the place is a great resource for the community and it was packed when we visited - kids and old people alike in the library, families in the cafe, a juggler/mime show outside. People enroll in workshops, come for career counselling, sunbathing. The towers are the gymnasium. This place probably has the highest basketball court in the world, on the top-most level of the tower> The swimming pool is at the bottom and the levels in between also have large format sports spaces, all stacked up.

Of all the venerated modernist/brutalist architecture I've seen - this is perhaps the liveliest in use and seems to be truly embraced by the people.

Zeuler Lima from WashU is/was working on a book on her. I heard him speak about it also back in 2006.

Hi Nam!
Yes, Lina was amazing, I love her croquis as well, often very abstract. I used to go to Sesc pompeia a lot while I was living there. It's a great space for the community.

hahaha...paulistas live in a crowded city with no beaches, so any lake or deck = a chance to get a tan.

hey purpina,

Thanks for all the comments. I was aware of the work of Paulo Mendes da Rocha but not Vilanova Artigas.

I wouldn't necessarily include Neimeyer architecture as brutalism (too many curves???) but it is amazing to me how Brazilians seemed (and sounds like still do) embrace a rougher, raw concrete aesthetic.

I mean you look at the USA and UK and architectural Brutalism isn't loved by the public, for the most part.

Maybe it is something about the addition of a Tropical aesthetic + brutalism that creates this condition?

I would love some additional photos of this building or any of her works, posted or if already on Flickr maybe just post link here?

Nam... One of my professors at UPenn, Cathrine Veikos, is currently working on a book about Lina Bo Bardi. She actually just gave a lecture about this building to the PhD program here the week before Thanksgiving. You might search the Avery index to see if Cathrine has published anything in journals in advance of her book.

I think they embrace concrete because is beautiful and modern. Americans have developed and mass produced other materials and methods to enclose buildings.
Brazilians deal with lots of humidity and rain. And a well prepared and poured concrete will last a long long time. Concrete, concrete blocks, cellular concrete, bricks, wood, metallic structures, glass are the most popular and accessible.
The concept of build today and demolish tomorrow is not really an option.

“I eliminated the cultural snobbery so dearly beloved by intellectuals (and today's architects), opting for direct, raw solutions."
—Lina Bo Bard