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PLATAFORMA BUILDING

MACAO, CHINA

D.S.S.O.P.T. DIRECÇÃO DOS SERVIÇOS DE SOLOS OBRAS PUBLICAS E TRANSPORTES

2017

Competition

Public Building

RUI LEÃO, CARLOTTA BRUNI

RUI LEÃO, CARLOTTA BRUNI, RITA CERQUEIRA

TATIANA CHONG; ARKA BISWAS; DUARTE SANTANA

PAL ASIACONSULT

The program for this building embodies the application on Macau’s political realm of the People’s Republic of China Central Government Belt and Road initiative to Macau and the network of Portuguese speaking countries. The Cooperation Building plot is at the center of the Nam Van reclamation master plan; an area designed to be developed as the new administrative and civic center of the Special Administrative Region, in the manner of as a Greek Acropolis.

The site is wedged in between a high speed road, the Macau outer ring road, and a public square shared by other institutional buildings: the rest of the district plots are still expectant.

Being the site newly built flat land, without much built context around it, the main concern in the design has been to give an architectural response to the important mainland political agenda and visualize the political relevance that the building awards the city

The architectural project is a testament to the region’s commitment to progress, innovation, and collaboration on both a local and international scale. Positioned in close proximity to key institutional landmarks such as the Macau SAR legislative council and the High Court, the building’s strategic location within the envisioned administrative and civic center underscores its pivotal role in shaping the socio-political landscape of the Special Administrative Region.

 

The design of the structure reflects a convergence of architectural vision and urban planning objectives. Organized around a very large congress room for the Forum between Macau and the Portuguese-speaking countries the building serves as a physical embodiment of the region’s aspirations for global engagement and diplomatic relations.

The design strategy has been to separate the permanent Forum office areas from the congress center by an open air patio that crosses the lot transversally allowing for the main entrances to be located in a wide quiet area set back from the street. Four bridges connect at high level the two volumes crossing over the entrance patio.

Central to the design approach is the notion of architectural storytelling, where the formal composition of the building serves as a medium for expressing the interconnectedness of the thematic elements embedded within the brief. Through a careful orchestration of spatial sequences, material choices, and structural dynamics, the architecture unfolds as a narrative of unity, progress, and shared purpose – mirroring the ethos of cooperation and dialogue that underpins the Forum of Cooperation.

The Architecture of this design values the relation between the formal units that build up its narrative, enforcing the concept of a collective dynamic. The communication of this Architectural message, both monumental and dynamic, is structural for the sedimentation of the role of this complex in the economy and the communities of the MSAR

The building’s design language, characterized by fluidity, movement, and interaction, transcends mere aesthetics to convey a deeper message of inclusivity, diversity, and mutual understanding. By creating an environment that fosters social engagement, cultural exchange, and economic collaboration, the project aspires to be more than a physical edifice; it aims to be a living symbol of community empowerment, innovation, and sustainable development.

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