Morphological studies of buildings have long emphasized the analysis of their enduring spatial configuration. However, with the growing contemporary demand for building resilience, frequent reconfiguration is necessary, often involving the introduction of lighter, more flexible elements or the remodeling of permanent structures. Drawing from exhibition spaces, where frequent reconfigurations reflect the ongoing negotiation between social demands and architectural constraints, the concept of ‘spatial mediation’ (Nóbrega, 2022) addresses these interactions. It relates ephemeral layouts to the apparent limitations of occupation and movement within the enduring structure of the building. Through an extensive study of the São Paulo Biennial, comprised of thirty-five art exhibitions and a pavilion, nine cases were intensively analysed before and after exhibition-induced reconfigurations. Three distinct models delineate between the minimum and maximum conditions of occupation and circulation inherent in the long-term building layout (complex and generic models) and those resulting from the short-term exhibition layout (specific model). The distribution sequences of these models define two types of spatial mediation: ‘mediation as a means’ and ‘mediation as an end’, indicating whether the exhibition layout conforms to or extends beyond the physical constraints of the building. This work contributes to museum and exhibition studies by helping curators and designers implement specific organizational strategies within the limitations of floor plate shapes, as well as can be adapted to the study of other building types that undergo recurrent reconfigurations.