Centro Evangélico de Porto Alegre (1959-1969)

Abstract (The Brutalism presents itself as a trend of modern architecture emerged in the mid-twentieth century that, among other characteristics, presents the use of materials in their natural state, such as the use of ceramic bricks and exposed concrete. In Brazil, constructions based on this architectural language are concentrated in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, since 1950. The present paper proposes an analysis of the Evangelical Center of Porto Alegre (CEPA), an example of brutalist architecture structure outside the cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. It is one of the pioneer buildings with cobogós and ceramic bricks that appear in contrast with the exposed concrete structure in the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre. The architectural complex, winner of a national competition (1959), was projected by Carlos Maximiliano Fayet and Suzy Therezinha Brücker Fayet, and it was built in 1969. CEPA’s structure is relatively extensive and diverse. The construction consists of the main body of the Church, public parking, administrative building, housing facilities and a square. To his wide variety of buildings, it was offered a formal solution through the establishment of a coherent dialogue among the participant blocks, resulting in one clear unit. It is located in an area between walls in Porto Alegre’s downtown. The set replaces an old and small evangelical church that was placed in front of the Otavio Rocha’s square. Taking advantage of the sloping ground of the street, the architects created a high plateau arranging the blocks and the square, offering access on the side of the temple by ramp or stairs. The high plateau also solves the issue of parking, which is accommodated half-buried in middle level. The housing building and the administrative sector of the center are arranged in a long vertical block located on the back of the property, providing a big backdrop for the set. The use of cobogós bricks in the closure of the building, intersected by markings of concrete slabs and walls adjacent side, reinforces the appearance of a pattern. In addition to the research and analysis of the formal solution of CEPA’s architectonic structure and its relation to the urban setting, the plastic- constructive solution related to the use of showing ceramic blocks, of exposed concrete and cobogós, it is of great importance for it being one of the pioneers projects in Rio Grande do Sul related to Brutalism. Carlos Maximiliano Fayet, one of the leading exponents of modern architecture in town, began this project along with Suzy Therezinha Brücker Fayet. It is an investigation about the brutalist language, which will impact on the formal treatment of other important projects influencing not only their own projects, but several works of other professionals in RS. This studied structure, although not so known, assumes the role of being one touch point as an example of modern architecture in Porto Alegre, in which the brutalist language developed in the economic center of the country, justifying further analysis of plastics and compositional aspects, as well as its insertion as a modern temple in the historic center of the city.