A new office tower, theater and café pavilion known as Alameda is being built in the high end district of downtown Sao Paulo; the centerpiece of the site design is the Alameda civic plaza. Lifted gently above the street level, four generous steps invite visitors to enter and explore the plaza while branded light pylons at all major entrances serve as place markers defining the boundary of the new development. An illuminated water feature of fountain jets and fog erupts from the organic patterned “Art Carpet” at the center of the plaza. Set in a field of mottled grey granite pavers, the dramatic pattern of deep blue and white tiles evokes the rich history of Brazil’s mosaic art tradition. For plaza events, the water feature can be diminished or turned off for additional gathering space.
An illuminated “Runnel of Light” weaves through the Art Carpet, past the theater, along the length of the Alameda, emulating Brazil’s ecology in abstracted form. This light stream guides visitors through the plaza and serves as an interpretive element, drawing from the site’s natural past. The terminus of the Runnel of Light is Memorial Wall, honoring those who worked on the plaza.
A raised lawn plateau bordered by granite steps and illuminated seat walls provides elevated views from among a grove of palms. An adjacent shade pavilion acts as both a beacon to enter the plaza and a shelter for refreshments. Seating areas are provided among ornamental gardens located throughout the site. Wood decks shaded by trees and containing cafe style seating are accessible at the ground floor of the buildings and feature installations of sculpture. Throughout the site a one-meter-high illuminated red wall provides dramatic framing of the gardens and conceals undesirable views.
51 Astor Place
At the locus of two famous NYC neighborhoods, East Village and Greenwich Village, this new corner plaza takes full advantage of the vibrant urban life generated by nearby NYU and historic Cooper Union across the street. With a strong architectural alignment of banquette seating, this plaza benefits from its urban context by carefully staging the cherished NYC ...
Silver Park
An entire 42nd Street block, in Manhattan’s west side, has been developed as a new residential tower complex whose central public park space is common ground to be shared by the neighborhood and new residents. A strong architectural edge at its 42nd Street sidewalk is created by fall portal light pylons and a trellis “room” from which visitors can view the str...
Jinbocho Redevelopment
Situated in central Tokyo’s university and publishing district, this new mixed-use project brought urban streetscape character to its immediate neighborhood through the introduction of plazas whose fountains, seating areas, cafes and sculptures serve residents, workers, and the community as a refuge from the busy streets.
A diagram of pedestrian flows t...
Capitol Plaza
Capitol Plaza is located in the lively neighborhood of Chelsea Heights amid weekend antiques markets, art galleries, hip hop stores, design studios, residential towers, and Flower District shops. This narrow swath cuts through a block just east of Sixth Avenue and is one of dozens throughout the densest portions of Manhattan that bring a moment of respite and ...