CTE

The Building Technology Center (CTE), a consulting and management company for the construction industry, has gained new headquarters in São Paulo, with an architectural project designed to meet its core business objectives: technology, innovation and sustainability. With complete creative freedom, the layout proposed by Superlimão was inspired by university environments. The CTE project is not an open space, a concept that has been widely disseminated in recent years. The program included two large areas and a variety of meeting rooms in different sizes, in addition to fixed seating for employees. The terraces also had a dual function. In addition to being used for moments of relaxation, the outdoor areas were also designed to host small outdoor meetings. In partnership with Riccó, Superlimão designed the corporate furniture. The inclusion of ‘esfiha tables’, as triangular tables are affectionately called, created a less monotonous format compared to orthogonal spaces. At CTE, the architecture team also applied this concept to the design of the meeting rooms. Triangular rooms were created to make better use of the space. In addition to the more formal spaces, a grandstand was designed to accommodate other interactions between employees. As one of the main attributes of the CTE is sustainability, when developing the concept, the architects sought to combine a neutral aspect with the insertion of colorful materials, based on 4 elements (water, earth, air and fire) to compose the interior design. In the wet areas, for example, the tone of blue prevails, there are mixtures of rubber floors and carpets; in the environments, materials were used applying the concept of Biophilia to the design. But sustainability is not limited to the aspects of materials – everything is recycled or recyclable in the CTE. SuperLimão worked with the materials in their natural form. To play with the insertion of colors in the tables, a selection of tree leaves with striking colors was made (it is real color, not paint) and the ceiling is made of concrete, and buckets filled with colorful acoustic materials, leaving the installations visible. Another novelty are the acoustic panels on the tables. Since it is possible to have one side covered with formica and the other with an acoustic panel, each employee can choose to place a panel, customizing their desk. From a distance, this arrangement created an interesting movement in the space, which gained a variety of colors and more life. The kitchen was given concrete panels to keep them from being too heavy, with a profile similar to an overpass. The entrance to the office was given a ventilated façade by ULMA, a technological and cement-based panel that allows for varying designs, reminiscent of the cells of the body. The parameterization technique was used to develop the design, which managed to embrace a large amount of space in a larger perimeter and at a possible cost. The project won the 2019 Abilux Award for its lighting project, by Marcos Castilha.