BRAZIL

The winning design concept for Brazil entitled "Essential Architecture" exhibited environmental sustainability through its strategic use of shade and ventilation to significantly limit the use of central air conditioning.

Brazil's tropical climate is best characterised by intense solar radiation, high rainfall index, high temperatures with little fluctuation, and high humidity. To address these climatic issues, this design concept elevates the building from the soil to increase ventilation at the base, and optimises cross ventilation at its open interiors. "Essential Architecture" also distributes isolated blocks in such a way as to allow the air to flow permanently between the buildings. The balconies and roof provide shade and protection against the rain, while the building's shutters allow the user to control the air velocity inside the apartment, as well as to block the solar rays of the rising and setting sun.

Marcelo Morettin for Morettin Arquitetos Associados Ltda believes that increasing urbanisation in Brazil necessitates the creation of a new architectural "paradigm", with "sustainability as its focal point".  

According to Morettin steel could be implemented more effectively on the proposed building site in comparison to other materials, ensuring a more sustainable outcome. "The resistant properties and flexibility of the material can lead to architectural solutions of great lightness and strength," he said.

The Brasil Arquitetura short-listed design concept for Brazil, entitled "Living together", incorporates durable and low maintenance materials to resolve the adverse climatic aspects of Recife´s tropical environment with green features. Unit walls are protected against direct sunlight with electro-soldered bar-and-cable steel screens, which act as sun-screens. High openings on both sides of each unit assure constant cross ventilation-permitting environmental comfort without the necessity of air-conditioning.

Simultaneously, these steel screens offer support for the planting of creepers and hanging plants, which in turn can create microclimates and help with the cooling process through evaporation. These green features offer visual protection and give an identity to the building.

Furthermore, the hanging gardens together with large trees throughout the site provide shade for the building and parking lots against the powerful sun in Recife. The submission emphasised that native species would be planted in order to enhance and encourage the development of local habitat for native fauna. The landscaping, thus, could become an educational element of the development, as well as an essential factor for aspects of comfort.

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