Holcim Awards Gold 2011 Latin America

Urban remediation and civic infrastructure hub, São Paulo, Brazil

Type of project:	Building and civil engineering works
Start of construction:	June 2011
Main author:	Alfredo Brillembourg, Urban Think Tank, Brazil
Further author:	Hubert Klumpner, Urban Think Tank, Brazil

Winners of the Holcim Awards Gold 2011 Latin America for Urban remediation and civic infrastructure hub, São Paulo, Brazil (l-r): Hubert Klumpner and Alfredo Brillembourg, Urban Think Tank, Brazil

Project description
This project for a multifunctional public building, Grotão - Escola de Música (music factory), is located in Grotão in the heart of the Paraisópolis favela of São Paulo. With more than 100,000 inhabitants, it is one of the largest informal communities worldwide. Like many favelas, and despite its unusually central location, the area is effectively separated from the formal city and its social and cultural infrastructure. In addition, due to the informal development and the area’s topographic and geological conditions, the site is characterized by increased erosion and dangerous mudslides. The project takes up both of these key challenges, building on intense community participation.

The challenging topography is retained and stabilized to prevent further erosion, creating a natural arena in a terraced public space and including a precinct for urban agriculture. Different low-tech features are proposed. A water management system is introduced to use rainwater on site and reuse grey-water. An integrative system for the active and passive use of ventilation, cooling and air conditioning makes use of both, the building and the amphitheater construction. In its vertical structure, the building itself offers various spaces for the music school, including a small concert hall, and also sports facilities, public spaces, and transport infrastructure. In the vicinity, residential buildings augment housing reserves and frame the arena.

Comment of the Holcim Awards jury Latin America
The jury appreciated the holistic approach, integrating all dimensions of sustainability on macro and micro scales. The urban approach of creating a vertical density within the low-rise sprawl of the favela, and allowing public spaces around, under and within the building, is of high quality. Through its integrative concept and introduction of cultural “high end” facilities with architectural quality, the project has the potential to contribute to an enrichment of social awareness and cohesion in the area. 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 and management approach.

Descripción del proyecto y el comentario del jurado en español (PDF, 86KB)

Descrição do projeto e comentar júri em Português (PDF, 21KB)

Image gallery
Urban remediation and civic infrastructure hub, São Paulo, Brazil
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