Brazilian architecture firm Forte, Gimenes & Marcondes Ferraz (FGMF) was a finalist in the 2008 Living Steel International Architecture Competition for Sustainable Housing. FGMF’s Living Steel Competition entry won praise from the judges for the way the house design promoted ‘living in communication with nature’. The steel-framed house is made entirely from prefabricated components; the design concept is based around an inner ‘protective bubble’, and an outer ring of spaces that blend the interiors with the exterior. FGMF has had the opportunity to turn this ‘protective bubble’ concept into reality, with Casa Natura Santo André, the first of a series of ‘nature houses’ for Natura, Brazil’s largest cosmetics company.

 

Natura is well known for its ethical approach to research and development, and its commitment to sustainable practices and environmental stewardship. It is a rapidly growing company with a growing need for facilities in which to train, educate and motivate its ever-increasing army of direct sales consultants.

 

FGMF had worked with Natura on its five existing ‘nature houses’ in São Paulo. These facilities, all located in existing buildings, comprise auditoriums for training, product display and research areas, and coffee and administration areas. Adapting existing buildings to the program required by Natura had, however, proved to be expensive and inefficient, and was not compatible with the company’s plans to introduce nature houses throughout Brazil.

 

FGMF proposed its prefabricated ‘protective bubble’ house as a solution to Natura’s need for multiple inexpensive, flexible and sustainable buildings that could be delivered with minimum construction time and that would reflect the company’s environmental credentials. Natura’s requirements included large spaces on a small building footprint; abundant natural light and a connection with the outdoors; dry construction and efficient and economical building methods; environmental certification; and a design that could be replicated in a variety of site and climatic conditions.

 

 

A 250-square-metre site at Santo André, about 18 kilometres from São Paulo, was chosen as the location for the prototype project. With a 10-metre frontage, the site is long and narrow; the steel frame is placed lengthwise, creating a set back that is used as a garden area. The frame is designed to be easily adapted to accommodate variations in site orientation, access, and size. It can be mirror-imaged, reoriented or rearticulated to take advantage of variations in terrain, including corner sites. The role of the frame is to bind together the various other parts of the building, while defining all interior and exterior components.

The frame supports a large suspended ‘box’ that accommodates two flexible auditoriums. Because these rooms are more closed, the lighting can be more easily controlled. At the rear of the site another box accommodates more ‘private’ functions, including restrooms, storage, kitchen and administration areas.

 

From the street, the setback building is visible through the garden, creating perspective. White steel beams and shading elements add texture and act as contrasting elements to the transparency of the front of the building. The large box, which cantilevers beyond the limits of the frame, becomes the main element of the composition, while underneath, the ground-floor areas flow without apparent boundaries between the interior and exterior spaces thanks to floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Along the side of the house, the cantilever offers a covered pathway for visitors entering the product exhibition and research area. Construction elements are minimal here, allowing the products and the surrounding garden to be the focus.

 

 

A glass door leads to the main atrium, an open, half-covered undefined space used as a gathering and living area, which also accommodates the coffee area next to stairs that lead to the auditorium. The administration area is accessed via a footbridge.

For Natura to consider the ‘protective bubble’ as a suitable prototype for a substantial future building program, the building had to meet a number of sustainable criteria as well as requirements for fast and economical construction. Using primarily dry construction methods and off-site manufacturing of a majority of building elements allowed streamlined construction and reduced the likelihood of errors and costly remaking. Construction waste was kept to a minimum and recycled or recyclable materials were used wherever possible.

 

 

Only the preparatory work on the site and foundations were carried out using traditional methods. Once the foundations were complete, every component was assembled on site, including the metal structural elements, plaster board walls, cemetitious boards, frames and finishes.

 

The project met the environmental certification of AQUA, a program affiliated with the Sustainable Building Alliance and the first environmental certification program specifically designed for Brazilian conditions. In fact, the Natura House Santo André project was the first commercial project certified by AQUA in Brazil.