Milton Monte and His Amazonian Shed Architecture: Analysis of the Yellow Wave Residence

Ana Klaudia de Almeida Viana Perdigão, and Leonice Farias de Oliveira

Federal University of Pará, Brazil

Abstract: The production of the architect Milton Monte is investigated, located in the relevance of a logic design based on local reality, without the pretension of universal reduction established and imposed by external parameters to the act of designing, but by the architectural practice oriented by the place. Born in Xapuri (State of Acre - AC, Brazil), a place of strong influence in his professional identity, Monte reveals a design thinking based on the parameters related to the so-called “Arquitetura de Barracão” (shed architecture), a term used in the 19th century during the belle-époque years to characterize the headquarters of the rubber plantations of the Amazon. With direct reference to the Amazonian vernacular language, rescued by the architect's contact with an indigenous habitation, the “Residência Onda Amarela” (Yellow Wave Residence) located in the Mosqueiro Island (State of Pará, Brazil) is selected as the first of a series of studies. The objective is to create a discussion about the architect's thought in relation to the conception space in his works, to systematize the design decisions involved as well as to divulge the architect's design thinking using the redesign of projects, schemes and photographic material. To do so, we collected personal documents, interviewed family and friends, and gathered graphic and photographic material. The importance of maintaining an architectural collection available to inspire practices committed to the place and to the life in the Amazon is highlighted.

Key words: architectural design, vernacular architecture, sense of place, Amazon