Mendes da Rocha has shown a deep understanding of space and scale through the great variety of buildings he has designed, from private residences, housing complexes, a church, museums and sports stadia to urban plans for public space. While few of his buildings were realized outside of Brazil, the lessons to be learned from his work, both as a practicing architect and a teacher, are universal.

The 75,000-square foot triangular site is located on a main thoroughfare that links the Jardin Europea residential district to the center of the city. Instead of creating a free-standing building resting on the site, the museum and landscape are treated as a whole. Large slabs create partly underground internal spaces and also form the exterior plaza with its pools of water and esplanade. The complexity of the design is realized in simple straightforward forms and the use of plain concrete. The great 97-foot long, 39-foot wide beam frames the museum forming a loggia or porch. It is visible indication of a museum building in dialogue with the city.

...this house is not a model, but a multifaceted event in the landscape. It is a suite of little surprises.