How did you approach this design in terms of the context and culture for which it will be built?

The notion that architecture should be conceived in accordance with the local conditions must go beyond the environmental parameters. The context also consists of socio-cultural characteristics. In the specific case of our project for Recife, besides choosing an architectural repertoire that reinvents local solutions, such as elevated column structures and shaded balconies, we imagined extremely flexible buildings, truly open floor plans, where we have the ability to deal with unpredictable current and future events. As well, this scheme stimulates the participation of the local community in defining the spatial layouts of the individual habitation units.

What is Andrade Morettin's design philosophy and how does it relate to sustainability?

The design philosophy that we have developed over the years already incorporated questions related to sustainability, such as rationality of construction and the careful insertion of the building in its context. Recently we have begun to understand that these questions have the power to transform the architectural practice profoundly, meaning that it is not enough to simply adapt to them. Rather, it is necessary to create a new paradigm that puts the sustainability parameters in the origin of a new architecture.

What are your views on steel as a construction material for densely populated areas?

The rationalization of the construction process and of building components are basic premises for a sustainable architecture. Steel, in its diverse applications, allows this principle to be adopted on a large scale. One can think of prefabricated and reproducible construction systems, which can be implemented in a planned manner and with minimal impact on the local environment. The resistent properties and flexibility of the material can lead to architectural solutions of great lightness and strength.

What was appealing about Living Steel's competition?

The scope of this competition -"to develop innovative approaches to meet sustainable housing needs" - can be considered one of the biggest challenges that Brazilian architects, and probably colleagues around the globe, are facing today. Our office has frequently undertaken projects at diverse scale levels related to this issue. With Living Steel's competition, we had the opportunity to develop not only a building, but also a new architectural paradigm that we call Essential Architecture, which has sustainability as a focal point. Obviously, the opportunity to develop the project to a detailed stage and the possibility of actual construction, as the brief foresaw, were determining factors for our participation in the competition.