subvert reflects south american culture with mirrored tupã pavilion

subvert reflects south american culture with mirrored tupã pavilion
photography by subvert / APP photography

in portugal, multidisciplinary design studio subvert has designed a reflective pavilion for ‘next future’ – a program of contemporary culture that focuses on research and art production in europe, africa, latin america and the caribbean. for the event each year, an artist or architectural office is invited to design a temporary structure in the gardens of lisbon’s calouste gulbenkian foundation.

the pavilion is designed as a space for reunion, discussion and contemplation

conceived as a totem, the pavilion – named ‘tupã’ – is designed as a space for reunion, discussion and contemplation – an architectural emblem that embodies south america. the building reflects the four vital elements: earth – from where the pavilion appears; air – the element that sustains it; fire – through the reflection of light; and water – suggested by its matter and form. the steel structure is clad with wooden boards and covered with a mirrored surface, which imitates its surroundings.

the building reflects the four vital elements: earth, air, fire and water

‘in guarani mythology, the word tupã refers to the supreme god of the universe and the creator of light, his residence is the sun,’ explains the design team. ‘tupã becomes, in this context, the architectural representation of a continent, south america. it emerges inside the gardens of the calouste gulbenkian foundation as a mirrored object that is able to transport us to other dimensions, to different abstract representations of that continent, to its colors, its textures and sounds. the mirror, the curtains, the smoke, the sound and light become the elements of transformation for this object, radiating the essence of life itself.’

the steel structure is clad with wooden boards and covered a mirrored surface

inside the temporary structure

the ‘next future’  program focuses on research and art production

in guarani mythology, the word ‘tupã’ refers to the supreme god of the universe and the creator of light

an atmospheric view of the gardens in lisbon’s calouste gulbenkian foundation

project info:

name: totem
commissioned by: calouste gulbenkian foundation, lisbon
coordination: tiago rebelo de andrade, diogo ramalho
team: tiago rebelo de andrade, diogo ramalho, manuel tojal, kaleigh nunes, adrien zlatic
photography: subvert / app photography
construction: J. C. sampaio, lda