The efficient use of resources, conserving existing buildings as far as possible and reducing construction waste. For the project, the original timber from the roofs was reused to make the street furniture that occupies the communal areas. In addition, the ceramic tiles, once demolished, were integrated into the paving of the project.
LAPI by Superlimão. Photograph by Maíra Acayaba.
Project description by Superlimão
If the Pinheiros neighborhood, on São Paulo's West Side, is currently undergoing an intense transformation, the Largo da Batata area - one of the neighborhood's historically effervescent areas - is consolidating this momentum with the inauguration of the LAPI project in March 2024. Developed by Jacarandá Capital, with architecture by Superlimão and masterplan by Spol, the development will occupy an area of 20,000 m², the result of the integration of 29 properties arranged in three blocks.
Acquired by the real estate business developer, committed to their context, the plots will form, at the end of the project, a mixed-use complex with stores, restaurants, apartments and commercial rooms, in an architectural ensemble that mixes retrofits and new constructions and excels in connection and enjoyment.
In this first phase, Quadra 2, which connects Fernão Dias and Guaicuí streets, was delivered. It will house stores and restaurants, all of which will face an internal square equipped with street furniture and a large ingazeiro tree. The LAPI development is expected to be fully inaugurated by the end of 2024. Even so, it has already won an important award, being the winner of the 10th Saint-Gobain AsBea Architecture Award in the Commercial, Services and Industrial category.
LAPI by Superlimão. Photograph by Maíra Acayaba.
A new experience for staying in the city: LAPI integrates with the main transportation hub on the west side and establishes an important outdoor occupation
Integration is one of LAPI's key words - a combination of the first syllables of 'Largo' and 'Pinheiros', the area is a strategic point of intersection with the city's main roads, and is the main intermodal public transport hub in the West Zone, with thousands of people circulating every day.
In this scenario, by redeveloping the blocks, LAPI brings a new experience of occupation by rethinking the urban space in an efficient, inclusive way that preserves the identity of the neighborhood, as well as consolidating itself as a landmark with transformative potential.
“The idea is that the neighborhood gradually integrates these new uses of spaces, so that this flow, starting from LAPI and expanding beyond the block, contributes to improving the urban safety, conviviality and qualification so desired in Largo.”
Thiago Rodrigues, partner and architect at Superlimão.
“LAPI materializes what Jacarandá Capital proposes to offer the market: projects that not only dialogue with the city, but also bring tangible benefits to the regions where they are located. With an approach focused on the long term, the company believes in large projects that require a significant investment of time and resources, strengthening urban environments and creating opportunities for occupants and investors”.
Luís Augusto Góes, one of the founding partners of the management company.
Based on a mapping of the flow of people and their profile, the design was based on a careful curation of services, stores and restaurants, interspersed with business and leisure areas. The proposal is to keep the space moving for as long as possible, generating a flow of people, lighting and security.
LAPI by Superlimão. Photograph by Maíra Acayaba.
Demolish and build: new open spaces for a more dynamic city
LAPI opens its doors at a time of transformation in the region, the result of Operação Faria Lima and other movements in the Master Plan that encourage dialog between business development and urban needs. With its direct impact on the scale of the user in mind, the design of the development is based on respect and preservation of local memory, prioritizing reuse and revealing the city's history in both retrofits and new constructions.
The valorization of vacant areas is a crucial aspect of the project. Irregular buildings with no architectural attributes were strategically demolished to create open spaces that provide light, ventilation and visual permeability. This process not only revitalizes the environment, but contributes to aesthetic and functional improvement, transforming previously neglected areas into dynamic spaces.
Fruition reveals an approach that enhances interaction with the urban environment, as well as addressing fundamental urban issues, such as the dynamic façade with stores facing the street and others towards the interior. All the circulations were directed towards the interiors, following the proposal that, in residential buildings, the entrance will be from inside the development. This approach is also applied to the commercial units, which are accessed exclusively through internal spaces.
In mixed-use developments like LAPI, ensuring that there are offices operating until late and residences with access not restricted to certain hours keeps people moving around constantly. By concentrating all the accesses internally, the aim was to create an active and vibrant atmosphere, essential for the enjoyment of the space.
LAPI by Superlimão. Photograph by Maíra Acayaba.
Sustainability: new uses for existing buildings and materials
The development's sustainability lies in its ability to make efficient use of resources, preserving existing buildings as much as possible and reducing construction waste. By managing demolition waste, 20 cubic meters of the original wood from the roofs were reused to make the street furniture that occupies the common areas. In addition, the ceramic tiles, after being demolished, were integrated into the project's flooring.
The search for sustainable practices also includes investments in technologies for energy optimization and water consumption, reinforcing the commitment to contemporary and environmentally conscious practices.
With the remaining areas resulting from the addition of active façades and the demolition of irregular areas on all the plots, new building areas were deposited in current and optimized structural systems, attached to the existing structures. The result is an approach that preserves the original and significant, establishing a harmonious dialog between past and present.
