Housing the largest and most significant collection of Brazilian Popular Art, the original museum occupied an old house transformed into an exhibition space at Recreio dos Bandeirantes, nestled within a remarkable geography and surrounded by a lush natural landscape. However, in 2014, the museum faced multiple floods caused by the construction of a towering vertical condominium for the Rio Olympic Games. This development altered the natural landscape, disrupting delicate drainage channels and raising the level of nearby roads and buildings by 1.5 meters above the museum’s site. After years struggling to protect its precious After years of struggling to safeguard its invaluable collection, the Pontal Museum secured a new plot in Barra da Tijuca from the City Hall, along with partial funding for constructing a new headquarters.
The original site boasted a harmonious blend of striking landscaping and unassuming buildings, showcasing a non-monumental scale that reverently complemented the collection's delicate nature. However, the new site presented a starkly different canvas: characterized by uniform geometry, flat terrain, sparse vegetation, and uninspiring vistas up close, juxtaposed with expansive panoramic views suitable for communal spaces. Constructing a new museum here necessitated not only building a physical structure but also creating a new, cohesive landscape that seamlessly integrated with various scales. Both the landscaping – foreseen by Roberto Burle Marx’s office – and the architecture are conceived as a living feature capable of growing and evolving over time.