Engineering Office

Superlimão designed the architecture for the new headquarters of the Engineering Office, in the Barra Funda neighborhood of São Paulo. Responsible for the design of the construction company's previous office, Superlimão was invited to develop a new space that, in addition to adapting to the hybrid work model—both in-person and remote—also represented a new, more mature and robust phase of the company. With 120 employees, including permanent and mobile employees, the need arose for a flexible office with clear circulation flows, with meeting rooms of various shapes and sizes, places for quick calls, and spacious workstations. The program also includes a studio for recording podcasts and a space for lectures and internal events. A carpentry bleacher seats some employees and external guests in a relaxed atmosphere. To arrive at the final layout, studies were conducted on sunlight and views from the 900m² slab. The goal was to free up circulation along the perimeter of the floor, ensuring views and natural light were present throughout the project. Circulation and shorter-stay areas, such as lounges, booths, and a pantry, were positioned on the sides with the most sunlight. These studies resulted in positive impacts on both energy consumption and team comfort. The demand for air conditioning and artificial lighting decreased, and the use of daylight created a more pleasant work environment for employees. To enhance comfort, indirect and warm artificial light sources were prioritized. The view also guided the layout: the main access is through a Concresteel tunnel, which directs the view of those arriving to Pico do Jaraguá, the highest point in São Paulo, which can be admired from the new headquarters. Another architectural objective was to transform the office into a kind of portfolio for the construction company. To achieve this, Superlimão sought inspiration from construction sites, incorporating common construction materials such as brick, concrete, and metal mesh into the architecture. The idea was to give prominence to elements that are usually hidden beneath coverings or finishes. This process required the development of specific details for the project, as well as specialized labor and constant knowledge sharing with the construction team. Applied in a non-standard manner, these elements gained not only aesthetic function but also comfort. The ecological brick, for example, was placed in a rotational manner, with cork stoppers to create an acoustically effective element. These and the other bricks were laid in unconventional ways and without mortar; pop metal mesh, commonly used in concrete slabs, was used in the ceiling with exposed installations; and concrete, which typically forms the structure of buildings, was used in the mobile work counters and reception. Landscaping appears as a counterpoint to the construction materials. Along the perimeter, planters fill the ceiling, and in the corridor leading to the meeting rooms, one of the areas with the most sunlight, a "tunnel" of flower boxes filters the light, acting as a natural brise soleil.