Designed by architect Ramos de Azevedo in the late 1800s, the State Museum of São Paulo once housed the School of Arts and Crafts. When asked to renovate the classical, symmetrical building, Mendes da Rocha did not change the exterior. Instead, he focused on the interior rooms.
Mendes da Rocha worked on the organization of gallery spaces, created new spaces, and resolved problems with humidity. Glass roofs framed with metal were placed over the central and side courtyards. Frames were stripped from the internal window openings so that they would provide outside views. The central courtyard was turned into a slightly sunken auditorium to accommodate 40 people. Metal catwalks were installed through the courtyards to connect the galleries at the upper levels.
~Pritzker Prize Committee