An interview with Fernando de Mello Franco of MMBB

last updated 12 September 2022

Fernando de Mello Franco, Marta Moreira and Milton Braga form MMBB - one of Brazil's most energetic and multi-faceted architectural practices with work spanning from large urban planning and regeneration schemes to private houses. Regular collaborators with Pritzker Prize winner and member of Wallpaper*'s advisory panel, Paulo Mendes de Rocha, MMBB combine practice with academia and have currently a range of projects on the drawing boards.

What defines Brazilian architecture and culture?

What is special is the way the Brazilians operate with the culture as a whole, even though each area has its own characteristics and interpretations of what Brazilian culture is. We also solve problems creatively. Everything could be a solution for a problem; we fix things with what we have available. This shows the power of our culture and Lina Bo Bardi used this all the time. That is, the way we mix the technical global standards with local culture. It is not local and not global, it is the friction in-between.

Do you think there are many architects today who work like this?

No, I don't.

How does Brazil's strong Modernist legacy affect and influence contemporary architecture in the country?

Well, Oscar Niemeyer is still alive so the movement is still alive in a way. But Wallpaper* is here and so many other people from all over the world, like you, think that Brazil is in a special moment of change. And for sure it is.

Do you agree with that?

I do agree. Sao Paulo, for example, was formed as a modern industrial city but now something new is going to emerge. I don't know what it is going to be, but it is not exactly the continuation of the Modern movement. We are not turning our back to it, of course. Things are just changing right now. Paulo Mendes da Rocha for example is really clever and is conscious of that. He says he hates to see young people doing what he had done 50 years ago. It has no meaning now.

Is Brazil and Brazilian construction mainly supported by governmental or private funds, Brazilian or foreign?

We certainly have both, but there is lots of Brazilian money for sure. We have mines and oil, so many good resources. But when you talk about Brazilian architecture, you will notice that all the big projects are somehow connected with a special political moment. For example, the Ministry of Education by Le Corbusier and others happened at such a moment. During the 1950s, the best of Niemeyer and Lina Bo Bardi's first works were connected with the economical development Brazil had after the Second World War. The bossa nova, cinema nuovo and so on were all expressions of that moment. I believe that Brazil is changing at the moment so we can expect something new soon.

Do you feel the state is encouraging a change?

You may find one person here and one there - maybe one per state - but it is definitely not a movement yet.

Architect: Marcos Acayaba

Project: Acayaba House, 1997
Read our Q&A with Marcos Acayaba

Project: Baeta House, 1993

Project: Olga House, 1990

Project: Pindorama Pavilion, 1985

Project: Terpins House, 1992

Architect: Angelo Bucci of SPBR

Project: Apartment building in Lugano
Read our Q&A with Angelo Bucci

Project: Atilba Leonel School in Sao Paulo

Project: House in Santa Teresa

Project: Housing complex in Algarve

Project: Mediatheque PUC in Rio de Janeiro

Architect: Bernardes + Jacobsen

Project: Guaruja House, 2007
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Project: JH House
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Project: JZ House
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Architect: Marcelo Ferraz of Brasil Arquitetura

Project: Bread Museum
Photography: Nelson Kon
Read our Q&A with Marcelo Ferraz

Project: Igatu Museum

Project: ISA
Photography: Daniel Ducci

Project: Conjunto KKKK
Photography: Nelson Kon

Project: Rodin Museum
Photography: Nelson Kon

Architect: Arthur Casas

Project: PK Iporanga residence

Project: KAA restaurant, Sao Paulo

Project: MP House

Project: Avenue Atlantica apartment, 2009

Project: AC Iporanga, 2005

Architect: Marcio Kogan

Project: Bahia
Photography: Nelson Kon
Read our Q&A with Marcio Kogan

Project: Micasa Volume B
Photography: Nelson Kon

Project: Osler House
Photography: Pedro Vannucchi

Project: Paraty House
Photography: Nelson Kon

Project: Prime Time

Architect: Eduardo Longo

Project: Casa GL

Project: Casa CMC

Project: Casa CAL

Project: Casa CEG

Project: Apartamento MG

Project: Proposta Para O Elevado Costa E Silva

Project: Proposta Praca Roosevelt - Praia Roosevelt

Project: Apartamento do Bola

Project: Casa Bola Galia

Project: Casa CMC

Architect: Fernando de Mello Franco of MMBB

Project: Boaaava residence
Photography: Nelson Kon
Read our Q&A with Fernando de Mello Franco

Project: Antonico Creek reurbanisation - Plan of the typical sector

Project: Headquarters of Corporacion Andina de Fomento, Caracas, Venezuela
Photography: Nelson Kon

Project: Music centre at Campos do Jordao
Photography: Nelson Kon

Project: Vila Roma residence
Photography: Nelson Kon

Architect: Ruy Ohtake

Project: FCC Biulding, 2005
Photography: Nelson Kon
Read our Q&A with Ruy Ohtake

Project: FCC Building, 2005
Photography: Nelson Kon

Project: Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Project: Op Art Flagship Store, 2009
Photography: ROAU Archive

Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci

Project: Zuleika Halpern Residence, 2005
Photography: Turca Reines

Project: Santa Catarina Building, 2003
Photography: Daniel Ducci, Carlos Gueller

Architect: Isay Weinfeld Architects

Project: Havaianas
Photography: Nelson Kon

Project: Fasano Las Piedras Hotel
Photography: Luiza Sigulem

Project: Midrash
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).