Architecture With A Brazilian Accent


Morumbi Mixed Use
Center
Sao Paula, Brazil

Architect: Donaldson Group
Architects, Boca Raton
Principal-in-Charge: Barry
Donaldson, AIA
Lead Project Designer: David
Herbert
Asst. Project Designers:
Danilo Guiso, Ashley Long
CADD Production: Brian
Honaker
On-site Architect: Roberto
Linhares, Linhares, LTD.
Sao Paolo
Owner: La Fonte Empresa De
Shopping Centers SA

A small site zoned for mixed
 use in the Morumbi District
just outside Sao Paolo represent-
ed a unique challenge for Florida
architects. The site is fronted on
one side by an interstate and on
the opposite side by an aging
shopping center known as Mo-
rumbi. The intention was to cre-
ate a retail/office center for the
Brazilians that provides a spirit-
ed shopping environment within
the festive and colorful vocabu-
lary of Brazilian architecture.
 The Morumbi Center, now
under construction, consists of a
16-story office tower floating
above the retail complex, a col-
lection of shops, a festival food
market, two department stores,
a food court, a 600-seat theatre
with stage and two movie the-
atres surrounding a 30,000 sf
themed entertainment center.
This space becomes the interior
focal point of the project acting
as a central plaza around which
all the elements are organized.
 Shoppers arriving from ei-
ther of the two below grade
parking levels will first see an
abundance of curved turquoise
steel trusses which rise five sto-
ries. These trusses are support-
ed on brick and granite piers
which float on multicolor terraz-
zo floors. The image of turn-of-
the-century railway stations is

FLORIDA ARCHITECT February 1993


recalled in the decorative metal
light fixtures and railings. These
forms and materials culminate
in the 85-foot high themed en-
tertainment center which will in-
clude such rides as a balloon lift
and swinging ship.
 The exterior of the center is


the product of the complexity of
both the diverse interior spaces
and the odd L-shaped site. Tall
decorative towers signal and
strengthen the corners of the
center and repeat the materials
used on the interior. The four
main facades that are crowned


nation and section courtesy of the architect.
 in various places with curving
 red metal roofs are detailed with
 intricate patterns of tile pla-
 quettes which are manufactured
 in Brazil.


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