Architects Office imagines a new way to live, work, and play in Brasília

The Brazilian studio Architects Office presents the World Trace Center Biotic project, a mixed-use complex that is part of the new Brasília Technology Park and proposes a rethinking of the federal capital’s urban dynamics. Set within a masterplan developed by Carlo Ratti Associati, the development brings together offices, residences, a hotel, retail, and public areas in a continuous, interconnected structure.

(Architects Office/CASACOR)

With about 180,000 m² of built area on a 70,000 m² site, the project moves away from the logic of isolated buildings and embraces a more hybrid organization, where different uses share infrastructure and coexist within the same urban system.

(Architects Office/CASACOR)

More than a collection of volumes, WTC Biotic functions as a kind of “urban platform,” designed to operate with different intensities of use. The proposal seeks to reduce the rigid separation between residing, working, and circulating — a defining trait of Brasília’s modernist urbanism — and to create a more dynamic and connected project.

At the center of the project is the concept of “reprogramming” the city. This translates into architecture capable of adapting over time, with buildings that can change function as new demands arise. To make this flexibility possible, the complex adopts a modular 8 x 8 meter structural grid, which facilitates layout changes and streamlines construction and maintenance.

(Architects Office/CASACOR)

Another key aspect is the relationship with the territory. Rather than opting for verticalization, the project develops predominantly horizontally, occupying the site with low volumes connected by a large continuous surface — a kind of architectural “blanket” that functions simultaneously as floor, roof, and circulation element.

This surface organizes flows, creates shaded areas, and establishes continuity between buildings and open spaces, reinforcing the pedestrian experience. As it meets the ground, the architecture dissolves into plazas, gardens, and terraces, enhancing the integration between building and landscape.

(Architects Office/CASACOR)

The environmental strategies combine solutions such as solar orientation, natural ventilation, and shading control with photovoltaic panels and water harvesting systems. Narrower slabs favor the entry of natural light, while brise-soleil, terraces, and green roofs help with thermal comfort and energy efficiency.