Sustainable project for Ponta do Coral in Florianopoli, Brazil

Description

The development of actual society needs a constant use of natural and energy resources. The cost of this
constant exploitation will have a increasing impact on our environment, considering also the economic and
demographic sprawl of new coming world powers such as China, India and Brazil. For this reason man has
to find new developing ways not based on intensive exploitation of resources. The main theme of my
thesis, supported by U.F.S.C. and Federico II universities, is the planning of an area in Florianopolis, capital
of St. Catarina state in Brazil, able to represent an example of a sustainable development. The project, will
include in its planning eco-housing units, infrastructures and an urban public park. The project area is a
natural protrusion of coastline in Atlantic ocean waters close to the city center, main theme of discussions
about metropolis since decades. In this location, used already by Portuguese settlers established in XVIII
century as observation and defense point, a small fishersman’s “favela” was settled. During last years , the
isthmus become free space of craved building speculation by the side of private companies. Original
inhabitants acted a persistently opposition to these private companies, even with physical occupation and
protests to complain their belonging to that site and the real needs to let it become a public space. The
investigative path studies, using SWOT analysis too, the social and cultural thematic of that area to
understand the needs to satisfy and traditions to value. The scientific knowledge helps to insert new
materials and low-tech solutions always more efficient and biocompatible too. The thesis analyzes
sustainable technologies and materials, focusing on renewable energy sources (integrated photovoltaic
panels, small wind turbines, natural ventilation) and also on technical tradition materials, such as adobe
and bamboo that are deeply analyzed trying to propose its valid architectural use.
The landscape terminal is the ideal extension of the internal walk park. Lightweight and permeable is
designed in bamboo and ipè-lapacho, a wood native , considered among the most resilient in the world.
The structure contains a bar , a restaurant , public toilets and two terraces. The
First, covered is a perfect meeting place, the other superimposed is ideal for relax and contemplation of the
landscape. The terminal in his end tract is supported by 15 conical elements that serve a triple function:
structural , collecting rainwater and lighting devices. The social housing project, where today is located the
small fishermen’s favela, it propose to maintain unchanged the organic , the strong reciprocal relationship
between the houses and the bond with the sea. The walls are designed in " Tijolo de adobe " , particularly
local brick composed of clay baked by sun , earth and banana leaves. Various technology interventions
have been considered to increase energy performance for abatement of CO2 emissions : ventilated facade
, small wind turbines , photovoltaic panels, green roof , natural ventilation chimneys , and low-emissivity
windows. For giving families an economic subsistence ,each unit is equipped with a small retail space in
front with independent access road . The multi-functional ' use of the area inside the village
creates the necessary start for better social integration.

Features