“Improving the degree of ethical standards and social equity in the region” – Holcim Awards Jury
The project is commended for advancing a strong tectonic initiative that promotes the particularities of the culture and significantly contributes to improving the degree of ethical standards and social equity in the region. The proposed use of indigenous materials is a commendable measure for considerably lowering implementation costs and for stimulating the local economy.
Last updated: July 07, 2005 São Paulo, Brazil
Energy conservation and thermal comfort for the users is achieved by a competent use of passive design, which includes such features as a double skin roof and walls. Also contributing to the performative efficiency of the building is the situational strategy that takes advantage of solar heating throughout the year.
The scheme promises to make a beneficial impact on the surrounding context, raising awareness of the potential of sustainable construction while providing an aesthetically refined social attractor. It is convincing in the measures taken to increase cost efficiency and proves that conventional standards of durability need not limit formal attractivity or finesse. The work is successful in giving lucid, material expression to environmental forces and also serves to display the latent capacities inherent to vernacular techniques of construction.