comprising architecturally very different buildings, the complex is a space of 15,000 square meters which has been impressively renovated by architects bernardes and jacobsen.

the mar includes an early-twentieth century palace, palacete dom joăo vi, where the art museum is located, and a former police building and the old central bus station of rio, where the art school escola do olhar, is located.   

the buildings are connected by an enclosed glass walkway and are covered by a concrete wave-like canopy, uniting them aesthetically and sheltering an events space and outdoor bar on the rooftops - from here visitors can take in remarkable views of rio's port district, guanabara bay and the impressive niterói-rio bridge.