2017 | Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Program. theater, opened and closed exposition area, coffee shop, workshop rooms, administrative space, meeting rooms, restaurant, parking lot.
The Center for Events and Conventions stands on a site with great declivity. Therefore its implementation was based on the level contours, in order to involve them, generating a building with a shape that resembles an eye.
URBAN PATH
2016 | Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Program: public square, comercial space, residential units
This project is located in Belo Horizonte’s city centre, a high density area with problems of unsafety and lack of public space. The site is in the middle of a city block, with pathways from the four streets sorrounding it. The challange was to integrate all four entrances on a 13 meters high site slope.
The concept was to design a public square connecting the four busy streets, creating an urban path inside the city block. This way, a simple path becomes an opportunity to connect the user with the environment, to socialize, to be in an open space on a high dense area. A path becomes an experience.
To solve the problem of the site’s declivity, a plaza with five different levels was created, with commercial spaces on both sides, connecting ramps and stairs, urban furniture and shading.
With the intention of having pedestrian flow wall times during day and night, residential and commercial use were implanted on plan.
To allow flexibility of use, the comercial building has an open floor concept, as the residential units have modular structural plans, granting possibility of uniting two depending on the users need.
The project’s design aim to potencialize the social benefits of being in a city center, feeling a part of a community, connected to the city.
The use of CLT (cross laminated timber) as a building material is an efficient constructive system, while ecological to our environment. The timber’s life cycle represents a sustainable way to use our natural resources, and recycle used materials.
It’s safe to say that vertical wood constructions haven’t been developed in Brazil’s urban fabric. This design represents an eager to innovate towards an ecofriendly sustainable future.
When passing thru the city block and finding a building made of wood and full of greenary, it creates a contrast with the surroundings. Almost as being in a oasis in the middle of the city, the wood carries a strong connection with nature, bringing the building to life.
