8/3/2019 Urban remediation and civic infrastructure hub, São Paulo, Brazil. Urban-Think Tank

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Comment of the Holcim Awards jury Latin America

Further author(s)

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Project background

Estimated start of construction

Gold Award Latin America

Urban remediation and civic infrastructure hub, São Paulo, Brazil

Despite its central urban location, the marginalized area of Grotão within the Paraisopolis favela is effectively separat-ed from the formal city. Within this isolated zone, increasederosion and dangerous mudslides have designated the siteas one of many high-risk zones in the city – a primarily in-accessible void in the otherwise dense fabric.

The Grotão – Fábrica de Musica (music factory) project fun-damentally transforms this void into a productive zone and

dynamic public space through social design, a process of analyzing the local effects of rapid growth and improvingmarginalized settlements through social infrastructure. Inaddition to stabilizing the challenging topography andeliminating further erosion damage, the new terraced land-scape transforms Grotão into a natural arena that encour-ages diverse community participation. The interventionopens the edges of the void to re-establish connectionswithin the isolated urban fabric and to introduce socialprograms where they were once categorically neglected.Localized elements of this program, which includes sportsfacilities, urban agricultural, public space, transportationinfrastructure, replacement housing, and the Fábrica de

Musica, are simultaneously connected to all boundaries of the area by the landscape of activated terraces.

The lower zone of the site contains the Fábrica de Musica,

which vertically stacks diverse programs to maximize sitepotential. These include public transportation, sports facili-ties, and the music school, which contains practice and re-hearsal spaces, studios, a performance hall, and auxiliaryclassrooms. This is a vital catalyst in the area, expandingmusic and cultural programs into the favela while forminga new network that serves the youth from all levels of soci-ety. The upper zone contains new replacement housing forthose displaced from high-risk zones. Commercial spacesare introduced on the first level as an economic vehicle thatactivates the street level and stimulates the micro-econo-my of the urban agriculture on site.

The project proposes that architects eschew their conven-tional role in traditional hierarchies to serve as an enablingconnection between the opposing forces of top-down plan-ning and bottom-up initiatives. By creating common groundfor these two forces, we can eliminate divisiveness andgenerate productive interactions. Here the priority becomesequipping this peripheral neighborhood with infrastruc-ture, water, sewage networks, lighting and services in addi-tion to social infrastructure in the a reas of education, safe-ty, culture, public space, and sports. The proposed urbanmodel aims to translate a society’s need for equal access tohousing, employment, technology, services, education, andresources – fundamental rights of all city dwellers – intospatial solutions.

Innovation and transferability – Progress

This comprehensive system of social infrastructure, publicspace, active and passive building technologies, and pro-ductivity is a conceptual framework that can be utilized toaddress other high risk zones and similarly challengingspaces, both within São Paulo and globally. It is a conceptualprototype and adaptable framework that encourages flexi-bility and a critical re-thinking of new design approaches

and processes in these spaces.Ethical standards and social equity – People

The project expands the definition of sustainability beyondecological terms into the area of social sustainability. Im-provement of this and other marginalized zones dependson the provision of basic services, equal resource distribu-tion, and adequate social infrastructure and programswhere they all have been conventionally ignored. The ter-races provide necessary public space in the overly densefabric in the form of a dynamic and productive zone avail-able to all residents. They provide a framework to integratepreviously fragmented areas with new social infrastructureand diverse programs to strengthen collective identity andensure positive growth for the future. The design process isbuilt on community participation in both the initial designphase and in the end use of the space.

Environmental quality and resource efficiency – Planet

The project utilizes site orientation to provide a combina-tion of both passive and active systems for maximum effi-ciency and low cost. The buildings and landscape work asone system that can effectively handle the varying condi-

tions of the wet/dry season cycle. Prevailing winds in com-bination with an in-floor cooling system provide efficienttempering; the waste heat is stored in the terraces (as heatsink) during the day and emitted through hybrid-PV panelsat night. Excess heat is vented through a solar and windsupported chimney. Water is reused o n site; what was oncea danger is now a resource. Wetlands filter the waterthrough the site, which can be used for irrigation (in urbanagriculture) and gray-water applications or further filteredthrough rapid sand filtration. An on-site water tank distrib-utes excess water to the sewage system during the wetseason and stores it for later use during the dry season.

Economic performance and compatibility – Prosperity

This urban intervention fits into a larger network of upgradingprojects for informal settlements financed by the city. How-ever, it is a new typology and prototypical conceptual frame-work that re-defines what can be do ne within this budget.The urban agriculture encourages a new micro- economy inan otherwise unusable space and a productive zone thatfeeds directly back into the neighborhood.

Contextual and aesthetic impact – Proficiency

The site is fundamentally transformed from an inaccessiblehigh-risk zone into a desirable and productive space. In or-der to handle the challenging topography, new section pro-files were necessary to retain the hill and stop further erosion/damage. This practical infrastructural solution was embed-ded with important social infrastructure and re-establishesconnections to the existing but fragmented neighborhoodcontext. It is a dynamic node of public space with both fixedand flexible programs.

Project dataBuilding and civil engineering works

City of São Paulo Secretaria da Habitação

Private commission

June 2011

Alfredo Brillembourg

Architect

Urban Think Tank

São Paulo, Brazil

1. Hubert Klumpner, Urban Think Tank, São Paulo, Brazil

The jury appreciated the holistic approach, integrating all dimensions of sustainability on macro and micro scales. The urbanapproach of creating a vertical density within the low-rise sprawl of the favela, and allowing public spaces around, under andwithin the building, is of high quality. Through its integrative concept and introduction of cultural “high end” facilities witharchitectural quality, the project has the potential to contribute to an enrichment of social awareness and cohesion in thearea. Furthermore, the appropriate application of technical features is of an exemplary and educative character. Grotão - Fábrica

de Música was commended for its highly integrated involvement of the local community in a “bottom-up” planning andmanagement approach.

Project description by author Relevance to target issues by author

Building and landscape work as one, a node of social infrastructure and exchange.

Outdoor night performance.

Plan.

Building systems.

Project catalysts.

Paraisopolis high risk zones.

Landscape.

Water systems and reuse. Landscape elements.

Project is embedded in the challenging situation of a high risk zone.

Regional Holcim Awards competition 2011