Paulo Mendes da Rocha (October 25, 1928 – May 23, 2021) was a Brazilian
architect.
Mendes da Rocha attended the
Mackenzie Presbyterian University College of Architecture, graduating in 1954. Working almost exclusively in Brazil, Mendes da Rocha began designing buildings in 1957, many of them built in concrete, a method some
call "Brazilian
Brutalism
Brutalist architecture is an architectural style that emerged during the 1950s in the United Kingdom, among the reconstruction projects of the post-war era. Brutalist buildings are characterised by Minimalism (art), minimalist constructions th ...
", arguably allowing buildings to be constructed cheaply and quickly. He contributed many notable cultural buildings to
São Paulo and is widely credited with having enhanced and revitalized the city.
Mendes da Rocha was a professor at the Architecture College of
University of São Paulo, known as
FAU-USP, until 1998. His work was influenced by Brazilian architect
Vilanova Artigas
João Batista Vilanova Artigas (June 23, 1915 – January 12, 1985) was a Brazilian modernist architect. Born in Curitiba, Artigas is considered one of the most important names in the architectural history of São Paulo, and the founding figure ...
, from the paulist Brazilian School. He was honored with the
Mies van der Rohe Prize (2000), the
Pritzker Prize
The Pritzker Architecture Prize is an international architecture award presented annually "to honor a living architect or architects whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produ ...
(2006), and the
Venice Biennale Golden Lion for lifetime achievement (2016).
Mendes da Rocha died on May 23, 2021, in São Paulo at the age of 92.
Major works
Gallery
File:SESC 24 de Maio (01).jpg, SESC 24 de Maio, São Paulo (2017)
File:Museu dos Coches 2.jpg, Museu dos Coches, Lisbon (2015)
File:Paulo mendes da rocha - capela de são pedro apóstolo - campos do jordão - são paulo - brasil.jpg, Saint Peter Chapel, São Paulo (1987)
File:PMENDES3.JPG, Patriarch Plaza, São Paulo (2002)
File:MuBE 19.JPG, Brazilian Sculpture Museum, ''Mube'', São Paulo (1988).
File:Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil - interiores.JPG, Pinacotheca, ''Pinacoteca do Estado'', São Paulo (1993)
References
Sources
*Artigas, Rosa: "Paulo Mendes da Rocha", Cosac & Naify
*Spiro, Annette: "Paulo Mendes da Rocha. Works and Projects".
*VAZ MILHEIRO, Ana; TAVARES, Gonçalo M.; SIMÕES, João Carmo.
Paulo Mendes da Rocha: Museu Nacional dos Coches'. Monade, Lisboa, 2015.
Designed Future or Selected Writings by Paulo Mendes da Rocha, monade, Lisboa, 2019 (English version)
External links
Pritzker Prize – profileNPR profileObjekto
1928 births
2021 deaths
Brazilian architects
Brutalist architects
Mackenzie Presbyterian University alumni
University of São Paulo faculty
Architecture educators
Pritzker Architecture Prize winners
People from São Paulo (state)
Recipients of the Order of Cultural Merit (Brazil)
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