Museum of Portuguese language

director of content and media

LOCATION: Sao Paulo, Brazil. Light Station (Estação da Luz) renovated by Paulo and Pedro Mendes da Rocha.

DURATION: Permanent. Opened in 2006. Currently under renovation.

VISITORS: 2,900,000 people (as of December 2012)

ROLE: I worked closely with the curator and over 30 language specialists to develop the main script, stories and narrative. I also worked with the building architects and designers to develop the program and experiences as well as the visual identity of the project. I was Director of Content and Media for Ralph Appelbaum Associates.

This museum is the first language museum in the world. It is located in downtown Sao Paulo inside the city's main train terminal designed by the English and renovated to house the museum. The museum explores the diversity and uniqueness of Portuguese language in Brazil.

The first experience is a film that gives an engaging explanation of the history of the language. In the dramatic setting of the station, an emotional multimedia experience immerses people in the richness of Brazilian Portuguese through sounds, music, poetry and moving image.

A 300-foot long (106-meter) synchronized media surface highlights the ways that dance, music, food, soccer, religion, and daily life influence and shape Portuguese language in Brazil. Framed by a graphic timeline of Portuguese language, a series of multimedia triangular pillars present the ways that different languages have shaped the language that is today spoken in Brazil.

The Plaza of Languages is the concluding emotional experience where prose and poems by Brazilian and Portuguese writers resonate on a compelling background of animated images and a vibrant soundtrack.

The museum is located inside Sao Paulo's main train station.

The Grand Gallery is a 106-meter long synchronized media surface.

At times, the wall divides into sections to delve into cultural and social aspects of Portuguese language.

The media uses animated text, documentary footage and graphics.

In certain moments, a single image covers the length of the entire media wall to deliver an encompassing message about the importance of language.

Facing the media wall, a series of glowing elements representing the different languages that have influenced Brazilian Portuguese over history.

One side of the triangular elements has interactive screens to explore words and expressions informing Brazilian Portuguese.

Another side has cases showcasing curated objects whose words have been imported by Brazilian Portuguese.

Key words absorbed by Brazilian Portuguese from each language creates a graphic background and covers all three sides of each pillar.

A chronological graphic timeline of Portuguese language highlights key moments, writers and books over history.

The last experience is an open plaza where a unique sound and image show brings to life the expressiveness and creativity of Portuguese in Brazil.

Projections cover the walls of the space and key excerpts from classic writers are activated in the center of the space at the end of the show.

Animated words and images cover the entire space.