Biotic: An Architecture that Rethinks Urban Life

The new AO project, located in Brasília’s emerging smart district, Biotic, was envisioned to house the latest World Trade Center (WTC) Brazil—a landmark development that will inaugurate the complex's built environment. The project integrates offices, a hotel, retail spaces, a convention center, and residential areas in harmony, forming an interconnected ecosystem where work, leisure, and living coexist.

With approximately 37,000 m² dedicated to office spaces, 20,000 m² to hospitality, and 29,000 m² to residential areas, the result is a 140,000 m² unified complex that, beyond its visual cohesion, preserves the functional individuality of each unit.

Uses and Programs

AO’s architectural proposal introduces a new unifying element: a fluid and adaptable architectural plane that overlays the built volumes, creating continuous organic contours that shape the complex’s landscape. Serving multiple roles, this element acts as a floor, connecting the ground level to an elevated path weaving through the buildings; a wall, defining the boundaries of each structure; and a roof, harmonizing diverse uses into a cohesive whole—reinforcing the very concept of the district.

The internal structure follows a rationalized modular system, ensuring a logical and efficient spatial organization. This modularity not only facilitates flexibility in layout design but also optimizes construction and maintenance processes. At the ground level, the circulation design accommodates vehicular access, shaded pedestrian pathways, social areas, and retail spaces, fostering a dynamic and inviting urban experience.

Aesthetic Functionality

By merging in-depth formal studies of architectural programming with the visual principles of Brasília’s architecture, the project challenges conventional forms, proposing a new way of inhabiting and experiencing spaces. The Biotic structure is not merely functional—it is a distinct architectural statement, redefining the interplay between form, function, and landscape.

The district’s master plan, designed in 2020 by Carlo Ratti Associati (CRA), envisions Biotic as Brazil’s new biotechnology hub, placing architecture at the heart of an urban plan that rethinks spatial occupation and usage.

More than just designing a building, this project engages with its surroundings as a whole, fostering a seamless relationship between residential, hospitality, commercial, and corporate spaces—dissolving the boundaries between architecture and urban design.