Instituto de Antibióticos source: Fundação Joaquim Nabuco. 1. Identity of building/ group of buildings/ group of buildings/ landscape/garden

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1 Full Documentation Fiche 2011 composed by national/regional working party of: 0. Picture of building/ group of buildings/ urban scheme/ landscape/ garden depicted item: Instituto de Antibióticos Instituto de Antibióticos source: Fundação Joaquim Nabuco. 1. Identity of building/ group of buildings/ group of buildings/ landscape/garden 1. 1 Data for identification current name: Departamento de Antibióticos Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (Antibiotics Department - Federal University of Pernambuco) former/original/variant name: Instituto de Antibióticos Universidade do Recife (Antibiotics Institute - University of Recife) number(s) and name(s) of street(s): Avenida Professor Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária town: Recife province/state: Pernambuco post code: block: lot: country: Brazil national topographical grid reference: 25 L m E m S (UTM) current typology: Research establishment - EDC former/original/variant typology: vertical monoblock

2 comments on typology: the institute have standardized floor plans, undecorated facades, roof terrace, vertical circulation and controlled ventilation Status of protection protected by: non-protected grade: date: valid for: remarks: 1. 3 Visually or functionally related building(s)/site(s) name(s) of surrounding area/building(s): Cidade Universitária (University City); Campus da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (Campus of the Federal University of Pernambuco). visual relations: The Faculdade de Química (Chemistry Faculty) of the former Universidade do Recife was originally conceived as a complex composed by independent buildings connected by means of a covered walkway. The Antibiotics and Mycology institutes were the only units to be built as designed in the early 1950s. They form a harmonic site constituted by two expressive examples of Brazilian modern architecture, surrounded by a contemporarily conceived garden. functional relations: The Department of Antibiotics is related to the health and biological sciences university departments either as part of research projects or undergraduate and graduate programs. other relations: 2. History of building(s) etc Chronology Note if the dates are exactly known (e) or approximately estimated = circa (c) or (±) commission or competition date: 1952 design period(s): start of site work: 1954 completion/inauguration: Summary of development commission brief: Oswaldo Gonçalves de Lima, coordinator. design brief: Mario Russo and members of the Escritório Técnico da Cidade Universitária (Technical Bureau of the University City) building/construction: completed situation: original situation or character of site: Campus da Universidade do Recife (University of Recife Campus) 2. 3 Relevant persons/organisations original owner(s)/patron(s): Universidade do Recife (University of Recife) architect(s): Mario Russo landscape/garden designer(s):

3 other designer(s): Lúcio Estelita consulting engineer(s): José Augusto de Almeida and Hélio Cunha (building installation). building contractor(s): 2. 4 Other persons or events associated with the building(s)/site name(s): Oswaldo Gonçalves de Lima association: founder and head of the Instituto de Antibióticos from 1952 until his retirement. Professor Oswaldo Gonçalves de Lima, industrial chemist (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro), in 1928, and PhD (Faculdade de Química do Recife), in 1932, was an internationally renowned researcher. His studies were dedicated to produce new drugs for cancer treatment. He was the scientific brain behind the institute. event(s): period: 2. 5 Summary of important changes after completion type of change: alteration/renovation/restoration/extension/other: ground floor extensions, interior alterations, partial enclosing of open spaces on the second floor and the roof terrace. dates(s): 1958, 1962, 1967, 1969, 1973, Recent alterations were not properly documented, but a building survey from 2007 accounts for the major changes in the original features of the building; circumstances/reasons for change: Extensions were needed only a few years after its completion to house new facilities on the ground floor (1958 and 1962). In 1968, the Federal Act n o extinguished the Brazilian federal universities research institutes and faculties and created the Department units, each dedicated to specific fields of knowledge. From then on, researchers had to assume, apart from their current researches, teaching positions. The Instituto de Antibióticos became a department subordinated to the Centro de Ciências Biológicas (Biological Sciences Center), losing its relative autonomy. These changes altered the organization concept in terms of its internal hierarchy and objectives. As a consequence, two main demands had to be attended: to house pedagogic activities and individual research projects. effects of changes: The building volume was altered at the ground floor level caused by the extensions built at the West façade, which compromises the idealized independence of the vertical circulation volume from the horizontal masses of the working spaces. The spatial structure was also altered due to reforms in the laboratories, turning the original open plan into a set of individual enclosed research units. persons/organisations involved: The staff of the Prefeitura da Cidade Universitária (University City Hall), former Escritório Técnico da Cidade Universitária (Technical Bureau of the University City), formed by architects and civil engineers. 3. Description of building(s) etc.

4 3. 1 Site/building character Summarize main character and give notes on surviving site/building(s)/part(s) of area. If a site: principle features and zones of influence; main elements in spatial composition. If a building: main features, construction and materials. The building was conceived according to a precise zoning concept that translates the functional relationships between the distinct departments of the Institute: the chemistry, microbiology and pharmacology ones. Mario Russo organized each department, part of the research process, in distinct levels. The fourth floor houses the Chemistry unit, the third, the microbiology one, and the ground level, the pharmacology and the administrative departments. Each plan has a different area to attend to the commission brief. The result is a trapezoidal profile with the largest area at the top floor. The second floor was conceived as an open space for communal meetings, hall of the auditorium, but also to allow wind flows to reach the Instituto de Micologia (Mycology Institute) located just behind it. This unusual solution conferred distinction to the building particularly with regards to the introduction of the auditorium as the connecting peace between detached the horizontal volumes. The structure is of reinforced concrete and the interior and exterior surfaces finished with colored lime plaster. Window frames in aluminum, firstly used in the region, were specially designed for the building, as well as the glass hollowed blocks used in the main staircase Current use of whole building/site: research unit and graduate course of principal components (if applicable): comments: 3. 3 Present (physical) condition of whole building/site: good condition of principal components (if applicable): The main interior alterations described above are reversible, as well as the paint layers that recover the original lime plaster. The ceramic hollowed panel that encloses the auditorium vestibule, however, is in need of urgent restoration, due to the rebar s oxidizing process. of other elements (if applicable): The original furniture was removed apart from two laboratories at the fourth level, which are in good conditions. The original aluminum window frames are well maintained and in very good conditions. of surrounding area (if applicable): good condition comments: 3. 4 Note(s) on context, indicating potential developments Indicate, if known, potential developments relevant for the conservation/threats of the building/site

5 In 2009 the Laboratório de Estudos Avançados em Arquitetura Departamento de Arquitetura e Urbanismo (Laboratory of Advanced Architectural Studies Architecture and Urbanism Department), developed a preliminary study for the restoration of the building that includes an independent block extension to house the main research laboratories, adequately designed to respond to contemporary health and safety regulations. 4. Evaluation Give the scientific reasons for selection for docomomo documentation Intrinsic value 4. 1 technical evaluation: The educational buildings designed by the staff of the Escritório Técnico da Cidade Universitária were conceived as reinforced concrete frame structures, with subtle variations according to the functional requirements of each individual building and aesthetical intensions. In the case of the Instituto de Antibióticos, the free floor plan follows a modular scheme, function of the architectural program s requirements, which defines the location of columns and pillars, always recessed from the façades. There are important technical innovations related to the design of architectural elements. The glass hollowed block was designed to be produced in a industrial scale and to be generally applied in the campus buildings for its efficiency in allowing light and wind flows within the interior spaces. They were produced in two versions: translucent and amber. It was in the Instituto de Antibióticos that the block was used for the first time. The aluminum windows frames were designed by Russo to allow natural lighting conditions for working areas and wind flows necessary not only to provide human comfort, but to exhaust volatile chemical elements used in the research experiments. They were produced by the Ferro Alumínio Construtora, from Rio de Janeiro, as the local industry was not able to produce them (Cabral, 2006). The windows are still intact and in perfect state of conservation social evaluation: The Universidade do Recife was created in 1946 by a Federal Act signed by the president Eurico Gaspar Dutra, as part of a national program intended to consolidate and extend the Brazilian educational system. The University Campus was the formal representation of the modernization of the educational apparatus. The Antibiotics Institute was the first building to be concluded and occupied within the Campus borders. The emblematic photograph of its modernist profile amidst the natural vegetation of the site is a synthesis of the innovative concepts in the various fields of knowledge, including architecture and urbanism. In terms of scientific achievements, the institute researchers collect considerable scientific achievements, such as the antibiotics commercialized under the labels

6 Bioact-D and Lapachol; the amoebicidal and giardicidal Giamebil, and the Anti-larv Bioticon, an efficient product to combat the reproduction of mosquitoes cultural and aesthetic evaluation: In the Instituto de Antibióticos were introduced the most advanced concepts in terms of planning chemistry laboratories, particularly with regards to their spatial organization open and integrated, which allowed a constant interaction between scientists. This open plan was possible by the reinforced concrete frame structure, conceived according to the modular scheme A B A A B A A B A, where A corresponds to the laboratory module (6,0m) and B, to the service and equipment rooms (4,0m) (CABRAL, 2006). This relationship between functional requirements, building structure and aesthetics form the basis of the architectural composition. The projection of the floor plan beyond the supporting pillars permits, for example, the adequate design of the façades: long horizontal windows facing the prevailing wind direction (East), and vertical concrete brise-soleil as a sun shading device at the West façade. The contrast between horizontal and vertical predominance of the opposite façades reveals a compromise with the climatic requirements, regardless of a search for a unified composition. The piece of resistance of the composition is the auditorium, projected beyond the limits of the second floor and designed with the main surface inclined in the opposite direction of the horizontal masses of the building. The volume establishes, under a dynamic tension, the dialog between the two parts of the building. To reinforce this tension, the columns and pillars are recessed from the façade and are recovered with black artificial stone to reinforce the unity of each individual volume. Comparative significance 4. 4 canonical status (local, national, international): The Instituto de Antibióticos is recognized as the best building designed by Russo for the University Campus. It synthesizes his rationalist background, the modernist principles that founded the design of the University Campus and is contribution to the graduation of the first generation of modern architects of the Escola de Belas Artes de Pernambuco (Pernambuco Fine Arts School). Innovative architectural and building concepts were adopted for the first time in the region, both at the level of the spatial organization, particularly with regards to the laboratories ambiance, and the introduction of new materials and techniques historic and reference values: Mario Russo, graduated at the Scuola Superiore di Architettura di Napoli in 1942, arrived in Recife in 1949 invited by the head of the Escola de Belas Artes de

7 Pernambuco (Pernambuco Fine Arts School), Professor João Alfredo Gonçalves de Melo, to assume a position at the design studio. His name was suggested by Domenico Andriello, member of the editorial board of the Italian journal Urbanistica. He also assumed the responsibility to conduct the Escritório Técnico da Cidade Universitária (Technical Bureau of the University City), the administrative unit responsible to plan and design the campus of the former Universidade do Recife (University of Recife) (Cabral, 2006). Acting both as a professor and practitioner, Russo gave a significant contribution to the diffusion and consolidation of modern architecture in Recife and Northeast Brazil. It is necessary to remark that the Pernambuco Fine Arts School was, at the time, the only institution in Northeast Brazil in tune with the principles and practices of the modern movement. The students and architects that had the opportunity to collaborate with Russo were largely influenced by the rationalist principles he professed and formed the first generation of architects educated under the modernist principles in the region. In the following years, they occupied key positions as professors, practitioners and public servants, contributing to consolidate a particular modernist experience, referred to by many Brazilian scholars as the School of Recife. The most relevant professionals that were forged under the influence of Russo were Maurício Castro, Heitor Maia Neto, Everaldo da Rocha Gadelha, Reginaldo Esteves and Lúcio Estelita. The Antibiotics Institute represents the synthesis of Russo s design concept while dealing with social and functional demands; with the search for the best solution to fit the climatic conditions, particularly with regards to the concept of sun protection and natural ventilation devices and with the rationalist approach to construction. 5. Documentation 5. 1 archives/written records/correspondence etc. (state location/ address): The original plans of the building are housed at the university archive. The documents are reasonably conserved, but are incomplete. The personal archive of the architect Mario Russo was donated to the Joaquim Nabuco Foundation, in Recife. The most relevant documents related to the Antibiotics Institute are a few sketches and early photographs of the building site principal publications (in chronological orde r): UNIVERSIDADE DO RECIFE, Instituto de Antibióticos. Recife: Escritório Técnico da Universidade do Recife, CABRAL, R., Mario Russo: um arquiteto racionalista italiano em Recife. Recife: Editora Universitária da UFPE, 2006;

8 AMORIM, L.; BRASILEIRO, C.; LUDERMIR, R., Da restauração do espaço da arquitetura: o Instituto de Antibióticos. In: Anais do 8º Seminário Docomomo Brasil. Rio de Janeiro. Docomomo-Rio, p.s/n 5. 3 visual material (state location/ address) original visual records/drawings/photographs/others: Instituto de Antibióticos source: UNIVERSIDADE DO RECIFE, Instituto de Antibióticos under construction source: UNIVERSIDADE DO RECIFE,.1955.

9 Instituto de Antibióticos under construction source: UNIVERSIDADE DO RECIFE, Instituto de Antibióticos: ground floor administration, pharmacology unit and library Instituto de Antibióticos: first floor terrace and auditorium Instituto de Antibióticos: second floor microbiology laboratories

10 Instituto de Antibióticos: third floor chemistry laboratories Instituto de Antibióticos: roof terrace recent photographs and survey drawings: Instituto de Antibióticos: sections Departmento de Antibióticos, with auditorium in the foreground source: Carolina Brasileiro, 2008.

11 Departmento de Antibióticos source: Carolina Brasileiro, 2008.

12 Departmento de Antibióticos source: Carolina Brasileiro, Departmento de Antibióticos: ground floor Departmento de Antibióticos: first floot

13 Departmento de Antibióticos: second floor Departmento de Antibióticos: third floor film/video/other sources: Departmento de Antibióticos: fourth floor 5. 4 list documents included in supplementary dossier 6. Fiche report name of reporter: Luiz Amorim, Patrícia Medeiros e Carolina Brasileiro address: Avenida dos Reitores, s/n, Cidade Universitária, Recife/PE, telephone: (55) fax: (55) amorim.l@gmail.com / amorim@ufpe.br date of report: july 2012 examination by DOCOMOMO national/regional section approval by working party co-ordinator/registers correspondent (name): sign and date: examination by DOCOMOMO ISC/R name of ISC member in charge of the evaluation: comment(s): sign and date: ISC/R approval: date: working party/ref. n : NAi ref. n :