Bank Nacional Ultramarino (present day Bank of Mozambique)

Maputo [Lourenço Marques], Maputo, Mozambique

Equipment and Infrastructures

A 1954-1956 project by José Gomes Bastos (1914- -1991) and with a contract for work supervision (not performed) by Marcos de Miranda Guedes (?-2001), the new headquarters of the Bank Nacional Ultramarino located on 25 de Setembro Avenue (former República Avenue) was concluded and inaugurated in 1964. Building of a large size and high quality in terms of construction, it occupies three sides of a central block in Maputo. It is an example of the use of the architectural models and tenets of the Modern Movement of the post-war era, recognizable in the language as in the brise-soleils of the main façade, as well as the synthetic incorporation of diverse arts (gesamtkunstwerk) in the architectural design. Similarly to the contemporary building/seat of the Bank Nacional Ultramarino in downtown Lisbon (Portugal), this building is rich in artworks inscribed in the architecture. The groundfloor access is notable for the fluidity of the public spaces, with a ground-floor front gallery marked by a vibrant ceramic panel by Querubim Lapa; in the hall, there are sculptures by Manuela Madureira and inside the wide public area, a long marble mural carved along the side wall of the ground floor by Francisco Relógio. The spiral staircase displays a tile panel in ceramic “pastille” by Estrela Faria. The floors have painted panels by José Freire, Garizo do Carmo, Sá Nogueira and Malangatana (the latter placed in the employees’ recreation room). Other artworks by João Ayres and Bertina Lopes.