DETAILS
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.
Soundview Park
Soundview Park, built on 212 acres of landfill at the junction of the Harlem and East Rivers in the South Bronx, is the most significant recreational facility in Community Board 9. As part of the PlanNYC initiative, Thomas Balsley Associates was selected as the lead designer of Soundview’s master plan. This brownfield remediation will drastically improve both ...
Residences at W New York Downtown
The Residences at W New York Downtown is located in lower Manhattan. The at-grade public plaza creates an urban space with a food kiosk surrounded by a large raised wood deck with table, chairs, and built-in custom stainless steel benches and bar seating along the perimeter. A series of interplaying IPE wood and pre-cast concrete benches creates seating and co...
Dubai Expo 2020
From October 2021 to April 2022, the City of Dubai will host the World Expo: a large-scale International Registered Exhibition that will bring nations together with universal themes and immersive experiences. It will comprise an entire new city, built on a 1,083-acre site between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Expo site is organized around a central plaza linked to ...
CODA Tech Square
The new Coda building in Atlanta’s Technology Square represents a $375 million investment in the budding innovation district: the Southeast’s premier innovation neighborhood. The area has attracted industry innovation centers that include AT&T Mobility, Panasonic Automotive, Southern Company, Delta Air Lines, The Home Depot, Coca-Cola Enterprises, NCR, a...