Metro Arquitetos signs Cais das Artes, the last work of Paulo Mendes da Rocha

Signed by the office Metro Arquitetos, the architectural project of the Cais das Artes, in Vitória (ES), enters its activation phase and will have opening for the public at the end of January. Initially conceived by Paulo Mendes da Rocha in 2007, the cultural complex will begin its operations in March, with the opening of the museum, the first stage of the set to be delivered. This is the last work of the architect to go into operation.

Located in Enseada do Suá, in a large terraced esplanade in front of the canal that shapes the island of Vitória, the Cais das Artes connects a museum and theater aimed at holding large-scale artistic events. The proposal establishes a direct relationship with the urban, historical and landscape environment of the city, characterized by the presence of the port and the natural configuration of the bay.

The architectural design is organized around a large public square open for everyday use, configured as a seaside promenade. The buildings are elevated from the ground, allowing unobstructed views from the square to the surrounding landscape, with views of the dock activity, the city of Vila Velha, and the Convento da Penha located across the canal. The urban reading of the set links history and geography to a contemporary view of the city, with public space as the central element of the relationship with the surroundings. The square incorporates complementary uses, such as cafes, bookstores, and areas for scenic performances and open-air exhibitions, expanding the possibilities for collective enjoyment.

The theater, with a capacity of 1,300 spectators, is organized from two side galleries that concentrate circulations, technical areas, and dressing rooms, while the central space houses the audience, balconies, stage, and backstage. Like the museum, the building is elevated from the ground, touching the ground only in the technical areas under the stage and in the restaurant, which opens to a covered promenade by the sea, with pillars planted directly in the water.

For Gustavo Cedroni from Metro Arquitetos, the project transcends the architectural program. “It reflects Paulo Mendes da Rocha's world view, who has always advocated that areas facing the sea should be public spaces and not private ones. The Cais das Artes materializes this ideal and carries a strong affective dimension, as Vitória was the city where he was born and spent his childhood,” he states. According to the architect, seeing the project realized represents the materialization of memories and stories associated with the relationship between man and the sea.

Martin Corullon, also from Metro, highlights the urban and symbolic impact of the complex. "It is an architecture that transforms the landscape and operates at the city scale. After so many years of uncertainty, it is very gratifying to see a public project of this importance being completed with respect for its original design," he emphasizes. For him, the Cais das Artes also symbolically ends a professional partnership of nearly three decades with Paulo Mendes da Rocha, synthesizing a vision of architecture and the world that has been formative throughout his career.

The project began in 2007, with authorship by Paulo Mendes da Rocha and co-authorship by Gustavo Cedroni and Martin Corullon from Metro Arquitetos, with participation from architect Anna Ferrari in the development of the project. Construction began in 2011, was subsequently delayed, and resumed in 2025. The opening to the public is now taking place gradually, with the delivery of the cultural complex expected throughout 2026.

The Cais das Artes is a cultural facility of the Secretary of Culture of Espírito Santo, managed by the Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI).