COPASA – Companhia de Saneamento de Minas Gerais, Brazil by Morato Arquitetura

In Minas Gerais, a state located in Middle East of Brazil, COPASA – Companhia de Saneamento de Minas Gerais, is the state owned company responsible for the water treatment and distribution to the majority of the cities. For the planning and management, the company has an Administrative District for each of the five regions in the state. The project here presented comprehends one of the administrative head-office, located in São Sebastião do Paraíso – Minas Gerais state.

Frontal Façade of the Building

• Architect: Morato Arquitetura
• Area: Building: 100 m² , Land: 5000 m²
• Completion date: 2002
• Location of project: City: São Sebastião do Paraíso, State: Minas Gerais , Country: Brazil
• Designer/architect: Ulisses Morato de Andrade
• Nationality of designer/architect: Brazil
• Photographer: Daniel Mansur

The architectonical language used in this construction searched to articulate the two orders on which the activities of the company are based. On one hand, the Natural Order referring to the hydric resources, raw-material used to supply the municipal districts.This Order was expressed by the sinuous wall that surrounds the entire extension of the front façade and crosses the building, being extended to beyond the posterior façade. This curve line conducts the public to the main access of the company and simultaneously creates and internal yard for the conviviality of employees.

Conjuncture of the Three Functional and Visual Units of the Building

On the other hand, the Technological Order which leads to the complex technical apparatus used on sanitation of water coming from rivers and streams. This order is shown mainly by the choice of materials and by the presence of rationalist lines on the architectonical syntax. The apparent ducts for pluvial water, the same used on the water supply system, reinforce this concept.

Frontal Façade of the Building

In addition to the curve line already mentioned, the architectonical solution for the activities program was structured in two other organizing elements: the “articulating” referring to the volume of white color, and the “operational” referring to the one in ochre color. The articulating volume is occupied by horizontal and vertical circulating axles, which establish the connection among various sectors of the company. The operational is occupied by the set of rooms designated to management and planning of the supply systems.

Posterior Façade of the Building

Detail of the awards for the project

Awards:

• Honorable Mention: Award from the Brazilian Architects Institute, IAB-MG, 2008 (category: institutional building).
• Finalist: VI Corporate Architecture Grand Prize (category: public constructions). Promotion: Arquishow Magazine, 2008.

Details of the Posterior Façade of the Building

About Morato Arquitetura:

Morato Arquitetura, a firm working on Project sector since 1992, works to guarantee efficiency and visual identity to all of its constructions. Our strategy is to look for project solutions that rationalize the resources used in the constructions and that assure their functional, aesthetic, environmental and constructive qualities.

Conjuncture of the Three Functional and Visual Units of the Building

We have a solid technical experience in architecture, urbanism, interior architecture and design projects, which have been developed to important undertakings in public and private sectors. Technical assistance to the constructions, research on constructive technologies and partnerships with several sectors from civil construction, are routines we keep for the continuous improvement on the development of our projects.

Frontal Façade of the Building

The recognition of the quality of our works is shown by publications in many sites, specialized magazines, participation in architecture exhibits and national and international awards.

Details of the Frontal Façade of the Building

Posterior Façade of the Building

Conjuncture of the Three Functional and Visual Units of the Building

Tags: Brazil, Minas Gerais

Category: Commercial Building

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 9th, 2011 at 4:05 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.