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Thomas Deckker Architect: Offices for a Brazilian Company, London
Offices for a Brazilian Company
London
2011-12
Thomas Deckker Architect: Duval Renovation, Brasília
Duval Apartment Renovation
Brasília, Brazil
2009-10
Thomas Deckker Architect: 2 Development Studies, London
2 Development Studies
London
2004
Thomas Deckker: Magalhães House
Magalhães House
QL18, Brasília, Brazil
1993 - 2001
Thomas Deckker: Magalhães House
➲ Street
Thomas Deckker: Magalhães House
➲ Garden
Thomas Deckker: Magalhães House
➲ Spaces
Thomas Deckker: Magalhães House
➲ Rooms
Thomas Deckker: Magalhães House
Estantes
Thomas Deckker: Magalhães House
➲ Night and Day
Thomas Deckker: Magalhães House
➲ Windows

Moore House Project
Algarve, Portugal
1994-95
Duval Apartment Renovation
Brasília, Brazil
1994
Monorail Project
Brasília, Brazil
1994
superquadra model
Superquadra Penthouses
Brasília, Brazil
1993 - 2001
Thomas Deckker: Magalhães Project
Magalhães Project
QI26, Brasília, Brazil
1993-95
Thomas Deckker: Thompson House
Thompson House Project
Cambridge, England
1992
Brazilian Pavilion Competition Entry
Seville Expo
1992
Museu de Arte de Belo Horizonte Competition Entry
Belo Horizonte, Brazil
1991
Câmara Municipal Competition Entry
Brasília, Brazil
1990
'Brasília' Table
1990
Soares Apartment Renovation
Brasília, Brazil
1990
Moore House
Gerrards Cross, England
1984-87
Thomas Deckker: Magalhães House
Thomas Deckker Architect
Magalhães House, Brasília

The Magalhães House, Brasília

For publications and exhibtions see:

➲    ‘Revisiting Brazil’ RIBAGallery 2 13-30 October 2003
➲    ‘New Architecture in Brazil:Photographs by Michael Frantzis’ Brazilian Embassy, London 5-6 March 2003
➲    ‘Casa Nova’ Perspective [Hong Kong] Oct/Nov 2002
➲    ‘Architects Directory’ Wallpaper* July/August 2002
➲    ‘Foreign Legion’ RIBA Journal March 2002
➲    ‘Thomas Deckker:Two Projects in Brasília’ Architectural Design Sept-Oct 2000

The Magalhães House occupies a long, narrow, very suburban, site in the lago sul close to one of the bridges which links this district to the centre. The commission followed a study for another site, steeply sloping but with a fantastic view, which the client eventually thought too far away for commuting.

The area of the city bordering the lake - the lago sul [south Lake] and lago norte [north Lake] - was originally designated for the political class - ministers, diplomats and other officials - but has since expanded exponentially to include the middle class. The ubiquitous 'executive homes', euphemistically described as 'colonial', take their inspiration from the incredibly influential TV novelas [soap operas], which depict the fantastically exaggerated fictional lives of the super-rich in São Paulo. These houses, really more like sets, are without exception badly planned, dark and stuffy.

The projects for the Magalhães Houses were unusually protracted both before and during construction. First, client and architect became aware that they did not share a common language of design. The Niemeyer palaces, of course, were ceremonial buildings at a monumental scale and totally unsuitable as typological solutions. The clients made several cultural expeditions to Europe, while the architect began to explore Brazil, not only the famous beaches but also the more inaccessible treasures of the interior. It took several years before we felt ready to embark on this project together.