The frequent collaboration between Paulo Mendes da Rocha and METRO began in 1994 with the project for the 30a São Paulo Bienal. Since then, this partnership has consolidated in a few well-known projects such as the Quay of Arts, Leme Gallery and the first South American Aesop store in São Paulo.

Paulo Mendes da Rocha, Pritzker Prize Winner in 2006 and recently winner of the Golden Lion award for lifetime achievement at the Venice Architecture Biennale is well known for being a member of the Paulista Brutalist avant-garde group in the 1950’s and for being one of the most daring architects of the twentieth century working notably in the public realm, creating concrete and steel forms of immense power and grace.

Due to this strong influence since its foundation in 2000, METRO develops projects that combine modernist architecture very much in sync with contemporary issues, promoting the collective use of built spaces, being them public or private.

METRO Architects is run by partners Martin Corullon, Gustavo Cedroni, Helena Cavalheiro and Marina Ioshii, they have a wealth of experience in projects across institutional, commercial and cultural sectors. Clients include the São Paulo Biennale Foundation, Nestle, Votorantim, the Secretary of Culture for the State of Espirito Santo, Galeria Leme, the Moreira Salles Institute and at the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP) where they remain a key part of the exhibition design team.