João Filgueiras Lima’s Bahía exhibition center – A brutalist classic

4 min read
João Filgueiras Lima (Lelé) - Centro de Exposições do Centro Admnistrativo da Bahia, 1974, Salvador, Brazil
João Filgueiras Lima (Lelé) – Centro de Exposições do Centro Admnistrativo da Bahia, 1974, Salvador, Brazil, photo: CC BY-SA 2.0 by gaf.arq
Address

1ª Avenida Centro Administrativo da Bahia, 100 - Centro Administrativo da Bahia, Brazil Copy to clipboard

-12.948258, -38.427591 Copy to clipboard

Visit information
Closed (status unknown)

The building is currently closed and fenced off, limiting access to its exterior. Visitors can view and photograph the structure from public areas nearby.

There is no publicly available information regarding a reopening date.

Before you go

Nearby attractions: While in the area, consider visiting the Palácio Luís Eduardo Magalhães and the Assembleia Legislativa da Bahia, both located within the CAB complex.

Photography: The building's unique architectural style makes it a great subject for exterior photography. Use natural daylight to capture the Brutalist details.

Safety: The Centro Administrativo da Bahia is generally safe during daylight hours. Standard precautions are advised, including avoiding isolated areas and securing personal belongings.

Best visit time Visiting during daylight hours is recommended for optimal lighting and safety.

Weekdays may offer a quieter experience, as the area is primarily a governmental complex.

Avoid late afternoons or evenings, as the area may feel isolated due to the building's closure and neglect.

Directions
By car

From downtown Salvador, take Avenida Paralela (Av. Luís Viana Filho) towards the Centro Administrativo da Bahia. The building is located within the complex and is visible from public roads.

By public transport

Local buses run to the Centro Administrativo da Bahia area. Check schedules in advance, as public transportation options may be limited.

Parking

Limited parking is available at the back of the building.

Introduction

As far as Brutalist architecture goes, the Centro de Exposições da Bahía Building, more commonly known as the Exhibition Center of the Administrative Center of Bahía, is a perfect example.

Designed in 1974 by Brazilian architect João Filgueiras Lima, more frequently known as Lelé, this amphitheater was designed to accommodate at least 50 individuals.

João Filgueiras Lima (Lelé) - Centro de Exposições do Centro Admnistrativo da Bahia, 1974, Salvador, Brazil
João Filgueiras Lima (Lelé) – Centro de Exposições do Centro Admnistrativo da Bahia, 1974, Salvador, Brazil, photo: CC BY-SA 2.0 by gaf.arq

Brutalism

Brutalist architecture emerged during the 1950s in the UK when many of the buildings had to undergo reconstruction as a result of the years of war.

Because there weren’t too many resources to spare in the post-war era, many of the brutalist architecture constructions were only created to showcase the bare construction materials and structural components rather than the decorative components of design.

That explains why many builds created using Brutalist architecture, including João Filgueiras Lima’s Exhibition Center of the Administrative Center of Bahia, all share similar characteristics.

João Filgueiras Lima (Lelé) - Centro de Exposições do Centro Admnistrativo da Bahia, 1974, Salvador, Brazil
João Filgueiras Lima (Lelé) – Centro de Exposições do Centro Admnistrativo da Bahia, 1974, Salvador, Brazil, photo: CC BY-SA 2.0 by gaf.arq

Brutalist architecture was extremely common in the 1950s but was gradually phased out by early 20th century modernist designs. As such, there aren’t many Brutalist architecture buildings that are still standing today.

Indeed, though the Exhibition Center is an interesting example of Brutalist architecture still standing today, the building stands in ruins and has been awaiting renovation for decades to no avail.

João Filgueiras Lima (Lelé) - Centro de Exposições do Centro Admnistrativo da Bahia, 1974, Salvador, Brazil
João Filgueiras Lima (Lelé) – Centro de Exposições do Centro Admnistrativo da Bahia, 1974, Salvador, Brazil, photo: CC BY-SA 2.0 by gaf.arq

Construction

Erected entirely from concrete, the building is elevated two meters above the ground. At the center of the building are towers located on the northern and southern sides of the structure.

The two towers bear the weight of the entire, thanks to four thin masts that are attached to the structure on each side. The towers are four meters in diameter at the bottom.

João Filgueiras Lima (Lelé) - Centro de Exposições do Centro Admnistrativo da Bahia, 1974, Salvador, Brazil
João Filgueiras Lima (Lelé) – Centro de Exposições do Centro Admnistrativo da Bahia, 1974, Salvador, Brazil, photo: CC BY-SA 2.0 by gaf.arq

One of the towers has an elevator within it, while the other contains stairs that lead to the top of the towers. On close inspection, it is evident that the building was designed to look like a bridge, although one may also say that the stricture resembles a pyramid of some sort.

The entire construction is 171 feet long and 30 feet wide. In addition to the towers, the structure also has an underground floor, which hosts the technical and storage rooms.

YouTube video
1 min

The west side of the structure is slightly more inverted and contains the room where projections are shown. On the other side, windows provide ample sunlight that lights up the expansive exhibition hall.

Although this is certainly a very unique design of Brutalist architecture still existing today, the building has been cordoned off and is no longer in use.

João Filgueiras Lima (Lelé) - Centro de Exposições do Centro Admnistrativo da Bahia, 1974, Salvador, Brazil
João Filgueiras Lima (Lelé) – Centro de Exposições do Centro Admnistrativo da Bahia, 1974, Salvador, Brazil, photo: CC BY-SA 2.0 by gaf.arq

Location

390, 1ª Avenida Centro Administrativo da Bahia, 302 – Centro Administrativo da Bahia, Salvador – BA, 41745-001, Brazil

João Filgueiras Lima (Lelé) - Centro de Exposições do Centro Admnistrativo da Bahia, 1974, Salvador, Brazil
João Filgueiras Lima (Lelé) – Centro de Exposições do Centro Admnistrativo da Bahia, 1974, Salvador, Brazil, photo: Fotos GOVBA, CC BY 2.0

Speaking about his experience of working in different places all over Brazil, from Rio de Janeiro and Brasília, the capital city, to distant and heterogeneous places and the importance of locations, Lelé said1:

It was very important, because one of the things that we are losing with Globalization is the important regional influences. In each of these opportunities, you enrich yourself as you absorb the local culture. And that ends up changing the projects … For me, it is essential to get to know the place, to see how it can be, for example, the implantation of the building.

João Filgueiras Lima

Brazilian architect João Filgueiras Lima was one of the greatest Latin American architects of his time. His designs were truly ahead of their time and his extensive repertoire still inspires many upcoming architects today.

Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, he moved to Brasilia after graduating. Strongly influenced by well-known architects Nauro Esteves and Oscar Niemeyer, he ended up working with the latter to help him build Brasilia, a city planned from scratch and built in 41 months.

Inspired by the need for rationalization during constructing Brasilia, Lelé found great interest in the use of reinforced concrete. He ended up visiting the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and Poland in the mid-1960s to better understand the technologies of prefabricated buildings.

In addition to the Exhibition Center of Bahia, he is also known for several other designs, including the Twin Houses in Brasília, the Regional Hospital of Taguatinga, the Sarah Hospital in Lago Norte, and the Darcy Ribeiro Memorial in Beijódromo.

More Brutalist architecture

Citation

Footnotes

1. https://vitruvius.com.br/revistas/read/entrevista/15.058/5170?page=4