CHAPTER 2
OUR LEGACY
Three Generations of Architecture. One Vision for the Future.
Hero Statement
"The greatest architecture is not measured by the buildings it creates, but by the generations it inspires."
Every great institution is built upon principles that transcend time.
For Poulpe Studio Architecture + Construction, those principles were established decades before the company itself existed.
Our history is not defined solely by the foundation of a design practice.
It is the continuation of an architectural legacy built through education, public service, technical excellence and an unwavering commitment to advancing the profession.
The story of Poulpe Studio begins with a family that has contributed to architecture across generations—first through academia, then through professional practice, and today through a globally connected vision of architecture, technology and construction.
A Legacy Built Through Education
Architecture has always been more than a profession within our family.
It has been a vocation dedicated to shaping cities, educating future professionals and contributing to society through knowledge.
This legacy is represented by Professor Ney Chrysostomo da Costa, whose academic career became part of the institutional history of architectural education in Brazil.
During a transformative period in the twentieth century, architecture was evolving from a specialization within engineering into an autonomous discipline with its own identity, methodologies and educational foundations.
The establishment of dedicated schools of architecture represented a defining milestone for the profession.
Professor Ney Chrysostomo da Costa belonged to the generation of educators who helped make this transformation possible.
His work extended far beyond teaching.
He actively participated in the consolidation of architectural education at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), contributing to the institutional development of what would become one of the country's most respected schools of architecture.
A Historic Contribution
The history of Brazilian architecture cannot be understood without recognizing the importance of universities that shaped generations of professionals.
Among these institutions, the Faculty of Architecture at UFRGS occupies a prominent place.
Professor Ney Chrysostomo da Costa played a significant role during this foundational period.
As professor, academic leader and later Director of the Faculty of Architecture, he contributed to the growth, organization and consolidation of architectural education during years that defined the future of the institution.
His leadership coincided with one of the most symbolic moments in its history.
In 1957, the new Faculty of Architecture building was officially inaugurated.
The ceremony was attended by the President of Brazil, Juscelino Kubitschek, whose administration became internationally recognized for encouraging modern architecture, national development and the construction of Brasília.
Historical photographs from the inauguration capture this remarkable moment.
Within the Faculty itself, a commemorative plaque permanently records the event and identifies Professor Ney Chrysostomo da Costa as Director, preserving his contribution to the institution for future generations.
These historical records are not merely family memories.
They are part of the institutional history of Brazilian architectural education.
Architecture as Public Service
For Professor Ney Chrysostomo da Costa, architecture was inseparable from education.
Teaching architecture meant preparing professionals capable of improving society.
Leading an academic institution meant preserving technical rigor while encouraging creativity and innovation.
His work reflected values that remain fundamental to Poulpe Studio today:
• Intellectual curiosity
• Technical excellence
• Professional ethics
• Continuous learning
• Responsibility toward society
• Commitment to future generations
These principles continue to guide every project developed by our studio.
The Influence Across Generations
Family legacies are not inherited through obligation.
They are inherited through inspiration.
Growing up surrounded by stories of architectural education, academic dedication and professional excellence profoundly influenced the vision that would eventually become Poulpe Studio.
Rather than viewing architecture simply as the design of buildings, our founder came to understand it as an instrument capable of shaping economies, communities and human experience.
This understanding became the philosophical foundation of the studio.
Architecture is never isolated.
Every project influences people, cities and future generations.
A New Generation
While our roots are firmly connected to Brazilian architectural history, our vision has always been international.
Seeking to broaden his perspective beyond national borders, Arthur Rocha Chrysostomo pursued an academic path that combined architecture, management and global collaboration.
His education includes studies at the Universidad de la República (UDELAR), followed by a Master's degree at the University of Toronto, complemented by advanced specialization in management, strategic planning and business leadership.
This multidisciplinary education reflects the reality of contemporary architecture.
Today's projects demand far more than creative talent.
They require leadership.
Strategic thinking.
Financial understanding.
Technological expertise.
Construction knowledge.
International coordination.
Business vision.
Poulpe Studio was created to unite all of these disciplines within a single practice.
Continuing a Legacy Through Innovation
Every generation faces different challenges.
For previous generations, architecture required establishing educational institutions, defining professional standards and consolidating the discipline.
For ours, the challenge is different.
Architecture must respond to globalization, digital transformation, climate change, rapid urbanization and increasingly complex construction systems.
Poulpe Studio embraces these challenges through innovation.
Our practice integrates:
• Building Information Modeling (BIM)
• Artificial Intelligence
• Computational Design
• Parametric Design
• Digital Twins
• Sustainable Design Strategies
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• International Project Coordination
Technology is not viewed as an objective.
It is a tool.
Our objective remains architecture that improves people's lives.
From Local Heritage to Global Impact
The values inherited from previous generations continue to shape every decision made by Poulpe Studio.
However, their application has expanded far beyond geographical boundaries.
Today, the studio collaborates with clients and partners throughout:
North America
Latin America
Europe
Middle East
Asia-Pacific
Africa
Oceania
Our international operating model allows architects, engineers, consultants and construction professionals from different countries to work together under a unified vision.
This ability to connect global expertise with local realities defines our identity.
It is reflected in our brand promise:
Global Design. Local Impact.
Our Responsibility
History creates responsibility.
The legacy we inherited is not something to preserve unchanged.
It is something to expand.
Each project completed.
Each partnership established.
Each community improved.
Each building delivered.
Each young architect inspired.
Represents another chapter in a story that began generations ago.
At Poulpe Studio, we believe legacy is measured not by what we inherit, but by what we contribute.
Our responsibility is to honor the past while designing the future.
Timeline of Our Legacy
Early 20th Century
The foundations of a family tradition dedicated to architecture, engineering and education begin to take shape in Brazil.
1950s
Professor Ney Chrysostomo da Costa actively contributes to the consolidation of architectural education at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), participating in one of the most important periods of institutional development in the Faculty's history.
1957
Official inauguration of the Faculty of Architecture building at UFRGS.
The ceremony is attended by President Juscelino Kubitschek, university authorities and faculty members.
A commemorative plaque installed within the institution identifies Professor Ney Chrysostomo da Costa as Director of the Faculty during this historic milestone.
21st Century
Arthur Rocha Chrysostomo expands this legacy through international education, multidisciplinary expertise and the foundation of Poulpe Studio Architecture + Construction.
Today
Poulpe Studio develops architecture that combines historical values with cutting-edge technologies, global collaboration and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
Our projects extend across continents, but our principles remain unchanged.
Legacy Principles
Everything we design is guided by principles that have been cultivated across generations.
Knowledge Before Opinion
We believe architecture begins with research, analysis and understanding.
Excellence Without Compromise
Every drawing, specification and decision should reflect the highest professional standards.
Innovation With Purpose
Technology only creates value when it serves people.
Global Thinking
Architecture benefits from diverse perspectives and international collaboration.
Local Responsibility
Every project must respond respectfully to its cultural, environmental and social context.
Continuous Learning
Architecture evolves constantly.
So do we.
Closing Reflection
The story of Poulpe Studio is not defined by a single building, a single project or a single generation.
It is defined by continuity.
From Professor Ney Chrysostomo da Costa's contribution to architectural education in Brazil to Arthur Rocha Chrysostomo's vision for an internationally connected design practice, the same belief has endured:
Architecture has the power to shape the future.
Every project we undertake becomes part of that continuing story.
Every partnership strengthens it.
Every building extends it.
This is not only our history.
It is our responsibility.
It is our commitment.
It is our legacy.