São Paulo Museum of Art
Lina Bo Bardi · São Paulo, Brazil · 1968
The São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP), completed in 1968, is a prominent example of Brutalist architecture in Brazil. Designed by Lina Bo Bardi, its most distinctive feature is a large concrete and glass volume elevated 8 meters above the ground on four massive red pillars, creating a vast public plaza beneath. This "belvedere" space was intended to preserve the view of the city and allow for public gatherings. The museum's interior layout originally featured an open-plan gallery space with glass easels, designed to present artworks in a non-hierarchical, immersive manner. MASP's unconventional design challenged traditional museum typologies and established it as a significant cultural landmark in São Paulo, reflecting modern architectural principles and a commitment to public urban space.