Viewpoint Design
Pedra Grande Zone, Serra da Cantareira State Park, São Paulo, SP - Brazil
2016 - design proposition created to ‘Design II’ subject as a part of the bachelor’s degree at Escola da Cidade
Brazil is, geologically, an ancient country. This is known due to its central location on the South-American tectonic plate and the low average elevation of its territory. The metropolis of São Paulo, for instance, has an average elevation of only 832m (2730 ft) above sea level, despite being situated within a ‘sierra’. This is approximately the same height as the tallest skyscraper ever built (Burj Khalifa, Dubai, 826m). Moreover, the verticalized profile that characterizes the city's settlement style worked to erase completely the irregularity of the original terrain. The inhabitants of São Paulo are not used to striking and formidable mountain ranges, their everyday landscape consisting of the great wall of buildings of which the city is made.
However, there are places in São Paulo where this man-made wall subsides, and the locals can glimpse, in the horizon, the closest thing they get to a mountain range, ‘Serra da Cantareira’.
Despite its' modest height, the peaks of Cantareira are one of the treasures of the state of São Paulo. The State Park houses a small portion of the endangered Atlantic rainforest that once covered the whole area where today the city sprawls. When the weather and air pollution allow, it is even possible to see the contours of the trees that coat the steep slopes. For those that deviate from the frantic bustle of the city and appreciate the perpetuity of the Sierra, it serves as a reminder, or even a memory of what the biggest city in Latin America once was.
There are also those that willingly venture to the Park to look from afar at the microcosm that is the city. For those that decide to embark on this 40 minute voyage, the likely objective is the ‘Pedra Grande’ (meaning Large Rock) viewpoint. Because of its massive size, the rock opens a gash in the heavy rainforest, naturally creating a perfect outlook over the buildings.
‘Pedra Grande’ was there long before the Portuguese first arrived on Brazilian shores. It has seen the fast growth of the city, and has witnessed as all other ‘large rocks’ being swallowed by São Paulo’s unstoppable force. Maybe only because of a happy coincidence, it didn’t have the same fate.
A natural monument, it deserves the utmost respect. This is why, invading the rock with a manmade structure (despite being the aim of the design exercise proposition) seems to go against the feat that the rock has attained for so long; that of surviving humanity. A viewpoint structure built on Pedra Grande could never exist, especially not facing the city.
Therefore, this design proposition is precisely the opposite.
The elevated structure rises over the rock, with the exact purpose of leaving the natural view unobstructed. Those who choose to climb in the structure will find themselves in a dark hallway, with only two windows facing inwards into the circle. The city view is obstructed by the architecture itself, which in turn becomes the focal point.
The city view belongs only to the rock and only her may allow us to gaze upon it.
The city view belongs only to the rock and only her may allow us to gaze upon it.
