Carlos Barjas Millan

(b S?o Paulo, 29 Aug 1927; d 5 Dec 1964). Brazilian architect and teacher. He graduated from the School of Architecture at Mackenzie University, S?o Paulo, in 1951 and in the same year won the student prize at the first Biennale in S?o Paulo. His early work showed the influence of Marcel Breuer's and Walter Gropius's work in New England; like almost all his generation of architects in Brazil, he was also influenced by Rino Levi and Oswaldo Arthur Bratke. This phase of his work culminated in the O. Fujiwara house (1954), which shows a complete mastery of construction techniques in stone and wood, while also revealing the limitations of the craftsmanship available to him. His preoccupation with the social and economic development of Brazil led him then to change direction: by rationalizing construction methods and using prefabricated components, he sought a compromise between technological development and the unskilled labour that is abundant in Brazilian cities. An important work of this more mature phase is the R. Millan house (1960), Rua Alberto Faria, S?o Paulo, which received an honourable mention in the 6th Biennale in S?o Paulo and is often studied by students for its regular structure, exposed prefabricated concrete elements and a central two-storey hall integrating internal and external spaces. Of the same period are some single-storey blocks of flats on pilotis, such as the N. Oliveira house (1960) and his own house (designed 1963; unexecuted), both in S?o Paulo. Other important works include his designs for the Faculty of Philosophy, Letters and Human Sciences (1961-2) at the University of S?o Paulo, the church of N S Aparecida (1962) at S?o Caetano do Sul, S?o Paulo, and the prizewinning competition entry for the 4th Zone Air Barracks (1963) at S?o Paulo. He taught at the Mackenzie University from 1957 and the University of S?o Paulo from 1958.

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