Award-winning architect
Gustavo Penna was tasked with “reinventing” an iconic project conceived by
Oscar Niemeyer (1907-2012) and transforming it into a vibrant space for
art , education, science, technology and innovation, the SESI Lab, which is located in the heart of the
historic center of Brasília. The project is a
100% interactive museum maintained by the Social Service of Industry (SESI), in partnership with the National Service for Industrial Learning (SENAI), which will promote the connection between
artistic, scientific and technological actions in collaboration with industry and society. , with technical assistance from the Exploratorium museum – one of the main interactive centers in the world, with more than 40 years of experience, located in San Francisco (USA).
The architectural project and requalification of the external area were approved by the
National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage (Iphan) and the
Council for Territorial and Urban Planning of the Federal District (Conplan). “Here we made
a transformation, a resignification of the building , which had a physical presence in the city, but never had the function it could have had throughout history – of cultural articulation. What excited me most about working on the project was to give it a new meaning.”
intangible value to such a symbolic place”, emphasizes the architect.
“The interesting thing is that the historic building, built at the time of the founding of Brasília, continues to generate value for the future,” the architect points out. “And I believe that every building needs
to be open to reinterpretation in the future, so that it does not become frozen.” in time . All buildings need to admit reinterpretations.”
The architect from Minas Gerais, who was once part of the
CASACOR cast, has a 50-year career and is a member of the board of trustees of the
Oscar Niemeyer Foundation . Gustavo Penna is internationally recognized for his works, such as
Expominas and the
Japanese Immigration Memorial , in Belo Horizonte; the
Congonhas Museum , in Congonhas (MG); the
Brumadinho Memorial – which will be inaugurated in January 2023 –; and the
Monument to Freedom of the Press , which will also be built in Brasília.
