Providing timely and appropriate accommodation for controlled condominium spaces in the city is a central challenge for the discipline of architecture. Prompted by Curitiba’s municipal legislation, the design that negotiates the coexistence of these reserved spaces with shared public space forms the guiding thread that weaves the web of decisions allowing the desire and need to live together to become a tangible reality.
The meeting of two streets at a corner is used in the project as an opportunity to resolve the commercial space. The shop is sheltered by strategic setbacks from the perimeter of the apartment slab above, resulting in a wide and inviting covered area at sidewalk level. This defines the corner as a gathering place and creates an open perspective that transforms a previously sharp and unwelcoming angle into a friendly one.
Two equally important gestures are associated with this space. The first is a covered pedestrian gallery running along Amazonas Street, where the façade is longer. This gallery provides shelter for pedestrians, shades the vertical surfaces, and is topped with a canopy that extends the covered area and facilitates drop-off and pick-up by vehicles. The second gesture is the implementation of a public plaza beside the shop—this desirable proximity fosters a mutually reinforcing relationship between commercial and leisure activities.
The path of the sun dictates the layout of the building. The residences are positioned on the site to maximize exposure to northern sunlight, concentrating openings toward that orientation. Some units are set farther from the street, enjoying greater quiet while still receiving abundant sunlight. This proposed articulation increases privacy and acoustic comfort and also prevents the building from casting shadows on itself—ensuring sunlit residences and bright communal spaces on the ground floor.
A subtle separation between the project’s two main volumes enables fresh air to flow freely from east to west. This strategy of continuous air circulation is essential to the comfort of the residences, creating a pleasant microclimate and enhancing horizontal circulation areas. These passages offer views different from those within the apartments, making walking more enjoyable and providing fresh air to the ground-level green areas.
The residential units are designed for efficient and comfortable internal organization through clear geometric articulation and a spatial strategy that anticipates various reconfigurations based on each resident’s needs. The floor plan also considers service optimization, aligning shafts for plumbing, electrical, and telephone systems to streamline infrastructure and provide greater flexibility through generous interior spaces.
From the outset, broad views were a design priority for all apartments. No unit has its social areas facing mandatory setback lines—instead, all social areas enjoy extended views. These views allow more natural light and improve residents’ sense of well-being and privacy. Tall openings filtered by simple louvers on secondary façades, in laundry and kitchen areas, enable cross-ventilation even in typologies with longer corridors.
Programmatic proximity is important not only in public spaces but also in communal condominium areas. The ground floor houses enclosed shared spaces such as a party room, gourmet area, gym, and coworking space. All are directly connected to the condominium gardens, enhancing the user experience and greatly expanding the potential for diverse and simultaneous uses.
The project takes care to harness natural resources such as sunlight and rainwater, incorporating these aspects from the design phase. Solar energy use is optimized through the strategic positioning of photovoltaic panels to maximize rooftop surface exposure and solar orientation. The project also proposes rainwater harvesting and the use of cisterns for storage and reuse in garden irrigation, floor washing, and toilet flushing. The design includes a large garden area over the parking slab that contributes to flood control and reduces stormwater runoff into the public system. In this regard, the landscaping serves a dual purpose: contemplative aesthetics, which support residents’ well-being, and a functional role in stormwater management.
