Harmonia 57 in São Paulo by Triptyque Architecture
The project sits in a neighbourhood in the east of São Paulo, an area marked by a strong artistic sensibility and a highly diverse creative scene. Alongside this cultural richness, the district is frequently hit by flooding, which poses a real challenge for construction. Let us look at the response of the Franco-Brazilian practice Triptyque Architecture.
This building is a genuine living organism: it breathes, perspires and changes over time. Its aim is to adapt perfectly to its natural surroundings. The organic outer walls are thicker and dotted with pores that allow a variety of plants to take root and, in time, clothe the façades, giving them a unique appearance.
The building's hydraulic system is displayed on the outside, as if inside and outside had been turned inside out. The interior, by contrast, is bright and finished. The exposed services are no accident: they play an essential role in the life of the structure. Rainwater and water collected from the ground are drained, treated and reused, creating an ecosystem within the studio. Pumps and distribution pipes hug the external walls like the veins and arteries of a body.
The building has a simple volumetry and its envelope is treated in a neutral manner, yet the environmental thinking behind the project has produced an aesthetic of real interest. The two vegetated blocks are linked by a double metal footbridge spanning the small square. The arrangement of the various terraces allows a dialogue between the building and the street.
The two blocks contrast sharply: the front block appears to float on pilotis, while the rear block is anchored to the ground and topped by a volume shaped like a birdhouse. The building stands apart from its otherwise artistic neighbourhood; its appearance will evolve, changing colour and form with the passing of time and the seasons. Triptyque Architecture has, in short, offered an elegant environmental response.
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- © Triptyque Architecture
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