Patient Capital, Inclusive Model

Building on the concept of the “patient capital”, Projeto Integral Paraisópolis Avança (PIPA) is invested in the long-term economic self-sufficiency of the project. The business plan redistributes the benefits generated by the retail uses to ensure the operational capacity of the cultural and educational programs. The architectural design responds to the financial logics of the project, addressing the retail optimization and efficiency to ensure the viability of the cultural and social programs, their adequate management and maintenance. While the project gains zoning approval, the site is already in use providing enough revenue to maintain the temporary programming. The parking use of part of the site subsidizes the ongoing cultural and social activities and maintenance of the space.

Building community capacity & addressing local needs

Through the processes of land assembly and public engagement developed during the last two years, PIPA has already become a center for debate, knowledge transfer and community empowerment. The site offers an open ground for different social activities in a highly congested area in the city, and enables community to participate, learn and share. By integrating a wide range of social organizations in the ongoing and future programming of the site, PIPA has become a critical social infrastructure for the exchange of ideas, service to the residents and sharing of local knowledge with academics and practitioners involved in research and design interventions in Paraisópolis. From the office located within the site, the local architect is directly engaged in the planning and participation of it.

Design process and embracing the local identities

PIPA is the architectural expression of a design-driven process of community engagement and innovative private investment in Special Interests Zones. The project uses local construction methods and materials, and integrates mechanisms for environmental performance and energy optimization. The different volumes incorporate a variety of uses and define a continuum of publicly accessible and inclusive open spaces. Sturdy materials in the lower levels address the projected heavy use and simple maintenance requirements. The different volumes define the parcel perimeter and provide a hierarchy of uses. The light central prism provides a dynamic background for the central open-air amphitheater. The porosity of the skin reveals the movements of the ballerinas and play of the children in the kindergarten.