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 design 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-plan design, a concept widely used in recent years. The program included two large areas and a variety of meeting rooms of varying sizes, as well as fixed seating for employees. The terraces also had a dual function. In addition to being used for 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 the orthogonal spaces. At the CTE, the architecture team also applied this concept to the design of the meeting rooms. Triangular rooms were created to maximize space utilization. In addition to the more formal spaces, a grandstand was designed to accommodate other employee interactions. Since one of the CTE's main attributes is sustainability, the architects sought to blend a neutral feel with the inclusion of colorful materials, drawing on four elements (water, earth, air, and fire) to compose the interior design. In the wet areas, for example, a blue tone prevails, with a mix of rubber flooring and carpeting; in the living areas, materials were used that applied the concept of Biophilia to the design. But sustainability isn't limited to materials—everything is recycled or recyclable at the CTE. SuperLimão worked with materials in their natural form. To play with the inclusion of color on the tables, they selected tree leaves with striking colors (it's actual color, not paint), and the ceiling is concrete, with buckets filled with colorful acoustic materials, leaving the installations visible. Another novelty is the acoustic panels on the tables. With the option of having one side covered with Formica and the other with an acoustic panel, each employee can choose to install a panel, customizing their desk. From a distance, this arrangement created an interesting movement in the space, which gained a variety of colors and added life. The kitchen area received concrete panels to reduce the weight, with a profile similar to an overpass. The office entrance received a ventilated facade from ULMA, a technological cement panel that allows for variable designs, reminiscent of the cells of the body. The design was developed using the parameterization technique, which managed to accommodate a large amount of space within a larger perimeter and at a feasible cost. The project won the 2019 Abilux Award for its lighting design, by Marcos Castilha.