At the Rio 2016 Olympics, Studio GTM Cenografia developed a temporary installation for Nike. The space, inspired by containers and industrial sheds, occupies a total area of 600 square meters and was built in a metallic structure and wrapped in galvanized trapezoidal tiles. The cube used in the project is an installation from Brazilian artist and designer Muti Randolph, one of the pioneers of digital illustration in Brazil.
Our friends from ArchDaily Brasil talked with the architect Daltro Mendonça (GTM Cenografia) to find out more details on material choices and the execution of the project.
What were the main materials you used in the project?
Daltro Mendonça (DM): Metal beams, galvanized trapezoidal tiles, corrugated metal sheets, interior floors and surrounding structures out of wood, concrete pottery and vinyl plates.
What were your main sources of inspiration when choosing the materials used in the project?
DM: The customer’s desire to have a more industrial, clean feel, to make people think of the world of ports and shipping containers, we went for using a lot of metal, as a structure, in the finish or even furniture.
How did decisions related to materials influence the concept of the project?
DM: The details and finishings that we used because of the choice of material, ended up contributing to the desired design. For example, the choice to also use galvanized trapezoidal tiles in the interior of the space.
What advantages did the materials you used offer the construction of the project?
DM: Since we were looking at a project that was going to take almost 3 months to plan and work out all the details, 20 days to manufacture and another 15 days to put all together, the prefabrication and modulation that these materials offered were essential to be able to execute and complete the work within the initially determined time frame.
Did any of the project’s challenges involve the choice of these materials?
DM: No, just the opposite. They helped to achieve the necessary speed for this type of work.
Did you ever consider any other possible materials for the project?
DM: No, from the conception stage on, we had already decided on metal for the structures and the closures, which in addition to modulation and assembly, helped define the proposed aesthetic.
How did you research the right suppliers and builders for the materials used in the Nike project?
DM: We didn’t need to. Since they were simple, daily use materials, a research phase wasn’t necessary. We only needed structure samples and closures to define the finishings.
