by Isabel Duprat

 

The location on the corner of Avenida Rebouças and Capote Valente, at an important corridor in the city, suggests that the building is generous with the place. In this way, taking advantage of the 5 meters mandatory setback of the main construction, whose fate would have been to be a bedplant sandwiched between walls like so many others. Our project proposes to offer this area to the city, added to the sidewalk to create a small square, giving the street a breathing space that would provide a pleasant feeling to the pedestrian who walks along the turbulent avenue.​

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Basalt benches, the same stone I chose for the base of the building's façade, meet the floor in proportion to the layout of the frames, marking the line of the lot and following the unevenness of the street. In this way, in some sections the seat becomes support. We were surprised by the use of the benches by skaters, which forced us to place obstruction points that avoided using this way because they were being extremely damaged. The all the time vandalized wall received graffiti. It was the way to keep it quiet. So, the problems were solved. Why do we have such a precarious and misunderstood perception of the collective? In my experience at the Department of Parks and Green Areas, as a student, I was already astonished at the inclement vandalism of public squares, whose destruction process started on the opening day. We haven't evolved much since then. Public space is understood as a nobody's place where everything is allowed, even destruction.

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Sibipirunas (Caesalpinia pluviosa) were planted to shade the users of the benches, mark the sidewalk line and welcome the small square. The drainage floor ensures good absorption of rainwater and involves the entire external area of the building in contact with the street and sidewalk, for cars and pedestrians. ​

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This project started from the outside in with the purpose of privileging the public space. The sidewalk basalt benches extended to the private outdoor areas, giving the same reading to the garden as a whole. Taking advantage of an area of natural soil, so rare in building gardens, we planted jaboticaba trees, reminiscent of the backyards of the old houses in the Pinheiros neighborhood and bringing to the workday the joy of following the cycle of a fruit tree, from flower to ripe fruit. A pebble floor makes it possible to walk under its crowns and its fruits. Green masses of different volumes give depth to the limits of the lot. Pitanga trees (Eugenia uniflora) punctuate the large open roof terrace from which you have a splendid view of the city.​