Linearpolis, New Brazilian Architecture, Architect, Heliopolis Favela Design

Linearpolis, São Paulo, Brasil

São Paulo Buildings, South America – design by Desitecture

21 Sep 2011

Linearpolis São Paulo

Location: Brazil

Architect: Desitecture, London, UK

Linearpolis, São Paulo, Brazil

The proposition takes a radical look at the nature of space provision, and its consequences. This proposition questions the acquisition of space as an enclosure. We posit the opposite, that you can in fact acquire facility and opportunity. The scheme provides an infrastructure within which you may chose to fulfill you aspirations for enclosure.

We have selected the Heliopolis Favela in São Paulo Brazil as the site of this proposition, firstly to understand its issues and to determine a repeatable construct, which has the strategic flexibility to offer structured solutions to the issues encountered. The strategy is to free the ground area of the site and underpin the landmass, then to provide parkland, infrastructure and integrated transport systems. There are two main built form elements to the proposal, a regenerated landscape and a new socio economic driver.

The basic steel structural ʻdrumʼ and service cores for residential accommodation

The ʻdrumʼ frames and services cores are sold or exchanged for legal property rights to the residents. They in turn can choose to build their own enclosure within the framework, in whatever materials they see fit, given that they provide adequate fire protection and insulation. This allows a real variety of enclosure to be developed, experimental as well as conventional. Prospective residents are also provided with a choice of location, this in itself allows for a roll out of the developments structure, while it awaits residents and creates a market for sales. The frames benefit from the greater infrastructural plan, and also photovoltaic roof elements and service core vertical wind turbines, which is an integrated part of the cross ventilation system of the apartment framework. The drum frames offer a variety of permutations of spatial configuration, and as a result makes them attractive to new urban ʻintegrationistsʼ, it is these newcomers that will spur the change in the composition of the favela and its future regeneration.

The eco concrete Aloe Vera form for commercial and recreational accommodation

The socio economic driver is sustainability and tourism, without which there would be no commercial incentive for development and hence the capital investment for change. The undulating forms of the ʻAloe Veraʼ provide vertical circulation and access to the apartment drums whilst creating accommodation for commercial and recreational use, indoor gardens, shops & offices. The landscape element is the opening up of free land for smallholdings and recreation, bringing food production closer to consumption for the greater city.

Linearpolis São Paulo images / information from FD

WAF Entry: 2011

Award: World Architecture Festival 2011 – Shortlisted

WAF Awards

Location: São Paulo, SP, Brasil