Raphaella Pereira

“SAUDADES DALONGING NATUREZA” FOR NATURE

RAPHAELLA PEREIRA

RICHARD KING SENIOR PROJECT 2020-2021 DREXEL UNIVERSITY

RESEARCH SITE

SÃO PAULO CITY

23°S 46°W (3,000ft above sea level) size: 587 sqmi total population: 22 million

CLIMATE CONDITIONS: HUMID SUBTROPICAL TEMPERATURE JULY Coldest (58° F) FEBRUARY Warmest (69° F)

TEMPERATURE

TRAFFIC CONDITIONS DAYLIGHTING

RAINFALL Avg 56in per year Heaviest OCTOBER-MARCH Most rainfall: JANUARY Least rainfall: AUGUST NORTHERN SUN winter (june) fall/spring summer (dec)

Source: https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/brazil/sao-paulo-climate#faq

43 deg 66 deg 89 deg

RAINFALL

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

Source: https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/brazil/sao-paulo-climate#faq

Source: https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/brazil/sao-paulo-climate#faq

RELATIVE HUMIDITY - Avg 80% per year - Most Humid Months: JANUARY, MARCH, APRIL, DECEMBER

*Humidity & Air Pollution Combined In Air, Constant Mist Hanging Over The City

Source: https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/brazil/sao-paulo-climate#faq

SÉ DISTRICT

CITY'S VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE

portuguese mosaic

light, airy

planes

- brazil’s main commercial center - large transportation hub - scarce nature spots wood, concrete, ceramic

the human-centered issue: Brazil is ranked 4th on the list of countries with most depression and anxiety rates based on WHO⁵

for the families: POVERTY

90% of the population in urban cities, such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, face mental health issues³

for the professionals: LACK OF FACILITIES

30% of children & adolescents have a mental health disorder as young as 13 years of age⁴

for the community: CULTURAL STIGMA

Even with the free public healthcare system provided by the government, the middle and lower income families are still have limited access to the proper treatments and medicines they need.

Larger hospitals receive more government funding than the community based clinics, which tend to be more common and accessible to the people who live far from the major hospitals¹

With a culture that is heavily religious, most fear admitting to having mental illnesses in risk of being discriminated and socially withdrawn²

3. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/advances-in-psychiatric-treatment/article/mental-healthcare-in-brazil-modest-advances-and-major-challenges/02E3941E226E96168244BFE769DBF90B 4. Source: https://www.scielo.br/pdf/csp/v36n2/en_1678-4464-csp-36-02-e00005020.pdf 5. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2016-09-14/the-10-most-depressed-countries#:~:text=%5BRead%20about%20the%20challenges%20in,bipolar%20disorder%2C%20according%20to%20WHO

the environmental issue:

POPULATION DENSITY MAP | 2010

ATLANTIC FOREST MAP | Current

Along the same coast as all the major cities of Brazil is also the location of the Amazon's sister forest, the Atlantic Forest, of which only 7% of its original size remains.

87% of the population are urban dwellers

Source: https://journals.openedition.org/cybergeo/27349

Source: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ddi.12588

GREEN SPACE ANALYSIS

BIOPHILIA

SAO PAULO CITY CENTER

(n.) the love of life

“a connection that human beings subconsciously seek with the rest of life” - Edward O. Wilson, biologist

THE ENVIRONMENT

THE HUMAN

MENTAL WELLNESS

Cognitive Functionality and Performance ability to think

Psychological Health and Well-being our emotions, moods

Physiological our physical systems

IN BIOPHILIC DESIGN...

Nature of the Space

Natural Analogues

Nature in the Space

the spatial configuration

the organic, non-living and indirect ideas of nature

the direct physical and ephemeral presence of nature in space

Prospect (the view over a distance) Refuge (an escape) Mystery (being curious and wanting to dive deeper of the semi shown) Risk/Peril (seeing a threat with a reliable safeguard)

Biomorphic forms & patterns Material connection with nature Complexity & order

Visual connection with nature Non-visual connection with nature Non-rhythmic sensory stimuli Thermal & airflow variability Presence of water Dynamic & diffuse light Connection with natural systems

Understanding the Emotional Spectrum: Good v. Bad days

Enhancing our senses with Materiality: the natural v. the artifical

We often forget that mental health takes a major part in our daily lives. Every person feels something different every day based on their environments, and will also respond to it in their own ways.

Architecture is a tool in which we design for the comfort of the individual in spaces, and a large component of that comfort comes from the materials we interact with every day. With that said, each material has an impact on our mental health as well.

NATURAL MATERIALS

THE GOOD DAYS

GRATEFUL

INDIFFERENT

LIBERATED

UPLIFTING

VULNERABLE

COMPLETE

nature

water

warmth comfort shelter

lively refreshing pure

calming relaxing engaging

PERPLEXED

stone

ceramic

natural rigid raw

natural rigid raw

ARTIFICAL MATERIALS

FEAR

WORRIED

SAD OVERWHELMED LETHARGIC GUILTY FRUSTRATED APATHY WORTHLESS DETACHMENT LOST ANGRY LONELY EMPTY COLD NUMB DISTRACTED

- adding landscape to reduce heat island effect - use existing urban infrastructure - conserve natural areas

MOTIVATED

ANXIOUS

CONFUSED

HAPPY

CHEERFUL

Land & Site

wood

Biophilic Design

RELIEF

Designing Sustainably in a City: Biophilic Design

THE BAD DAYS

NUUK PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC NUUK, GREENLAND

concrete

rubber

metal

hard rough uncomfortable bland

flexible soft unnatural

processed cold heavy modern

glass

plastic

fragile visually pleasing security

fake processed

DAS CANOAS HOUSE RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

Climate & Energy - use solar + wind - maximize daylight + views - establish indoor air quality standards

Materials & Resources - reusing local materials part of the forest’s biodiversity - mixing urban materials with the natural materials

MARINA ONE SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE

PROCESSPROJECT DESIGN PARTI THE NATURAL PRESENCE

SPACE TYPOLOGY STUDY

It is important to remember the varying types of spaces that are present in an urban environment.

ground plane

PUBLIC v. PRIVATE SPACES are essential in this wellness center, as they each have qualities that adapt to a user’s emotional level.

But regardless of their differences, the applied nature will be present.

PUBLIC

SEMI PUBLIC

SEMI PRIVATE

PRIVATE

open full access to users pass through space

partial enclosure limited access visual connection to public

semi isolated limited access different level as ground

isolated enclosed visuall disconnected

PROJECT PARTI

PROGRAM:

EXPERIENTIAL:

SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY:

USER ENGAGEMENT

EXPLORATION

NATURAL ELEMENTS

PASSIVE DESIGN

USER PROGRAM

CIRCULATION

PATTERNS FROM NATURE

FORMS ORGANIC

PRELIMINARY CONCEPT ANALYSIS REVIEW With the main idea of the project being centered around human engagement, two partis developed to test how it can be achieved: using the building as a beacon for a space of gathering (A CENTRAL CORE), or can we use the people themselves as a way to organize the architecture around them (USER CIRCULATION)?

CENTRAL CORE

USER CIRCULATION

program parti: grouping

program parti: branching

section parti: tiers

section parti: views

STRAIGHT FACADE the facades that are outbound of the site and faces the rest of the city are sharp edges

CURVED FACADE the facades that the pedestrians come in contact with are in the natural form

In selecting the user circulation as the priority, the next question came to how the building will form. The options analyzed if one should respond to the other (have the path cut through the mass and create organic shapes) or should the building keep its typical angular qualities that are present in the city, and have the paths meander

PRIMARY PATHWAY through site

SECONDARY PATHWAYS branching out into programs

around it? The important concept to keep in mind here is the sense of balance between the built city and the natural environment, so the second option was the best concept that kept the qualities of both environments.

NATURAL MATERIALS

ARTIFICIAL MATERIALS PERPENDICULAR TO PATH creates the idea of mystery and curiosity present in our natural instincts NATURAL MATERIALS PARALLEL TO PATH engages users with the buildings and nature as they are passing in the moment

ARTIFICIAL MATERIALS

wood

concrete

stone

metal/steel

natural plants

rubber

ceramic/clay

glass

water

plastic

PRELIMINARY CONCEPT NARRATIVE REVIEW

NARRATIVE

PROGRESSION THROUGH THE PATH The main idea I gathered in designing therapeutic architecture is the enhancement of the human senses. I began to focus my narrative on the elements that are essential to impacting those senses - sight, smell, hearing, touch, taste - as applied to a typical urban city, and contrasting it with some elements as found in a natural environment.

FINAL CONCEPT:

50’

OPEN POCKETS - small exterior pauses along pathway

200’

ENTRY - from commercial area

to residential

100’

25’

PROGRAM SIZING

0’

WELLNESS CENTER

EDUCATION CENTER

CLINIC CENTER

USER ENGAGEMENT

PEDESTRIAN PASSAGEWAY - isolated path to bring pedestrians away from busy road

ENTRY - from residential area to commercial

TECHNICAL SUSTAINABILITY REVIEW WATER

WIND

SUN

green roof

natural ventilation

daylighting

ANGLED ROOFS angled against the main slope to reduce rapid water collection

WOODEN SLATS allow for ventilation and solar shading

NATURAL ELEMENTS shading + noise buffer

SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS USED

MIXING THE MAINTAINED ARTIFICIAL AND THE WORN NATURAL

CERAMIC

typical of brazilian vernacular

REPURPOSED WOOD - native to Atlantic Forest - types: ipe, canela, tarauma

REGIONAL STONES

used for retaining walls and water feature walls

GREEN CONCRETE

uses magnesium to absorb more carbon than used

WALL SECTION PERSPECTIVE

IRON ORE

country’s local resource

CORTEN STEEL

weathering characteristics contribute to the wear of the buildings

wood roofing

SCALE: 1/8" = 1'-0"

mass timber roof structure

typical concrete structure (20'x30')

FINAL PROJECT DESIGN REVIEW

level 4 floor plan

level 3 floor plan

level 2 floor plan

level 1 floor plan

0’

GROUNDING THE PROGRAM (THE NATURE IN SPACE) beginning to analyze program v. landscape

creating the idea behind grounding the users in a public space, or allowing them to take refuge in a private space

D

C

B

25’

50’

100’

200’

A

B

C

A

D

LOWER LEVEL LOBBY CLINIC CENTER

LOCAL RESIDENTS | PROFESSIONALS | PATIENTS

SITE CONTEXT

SURROUNDING INFLUENCES

PUBLIC CONNECTIONS: engaging immediate corners with city with adjacent program SITE EDGE: creating rhythm between hard edges and sudden openings into the path

50’

0’

100’

200’

400’



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0’

50’

100’

200’

EXPERIENTIAL FEATURES

NATURAL ELEMENTS

The main idea I gathered in designing therapeutic architecture is the enhancement of the human senses. I began to focus my narrative on the elements that are essential to impacting those senses - sight, smell, hearing, touch, taste - as applied to a typical urban city, and contrasting it with some elements as found in a natural environment.

WATER POOLS

WATER WALLS

BIOSWALES

- Material Detail_Interior _VIGNETTE - Ext Pergola View62 VIGNETTE _VIGNETTE - WC Lobby (Pe 9

BOARDED CONCRETE walls, artifical

TARUMÃ

(REPURPOSED) walls, natural

CERAMIC

floors, programs

TARUMÃ BRANCO structure

TARUMÃ

floors, main circulation

CORTEN STEEL

perforated walls

STONE MOSIAC main path

IPÊ

pergola structure

CANELA

(REPUROSED) public spaces

STONE

(REPUROSED) stairs

FINALEXPERIENTIAL REVIEW

1

2

3

4

5

6

THE VIEWS

PROGRESSION THROUGH THE PATH Along the way there are multiple obstacles that bring you to focus on the site, without losing touch in the city beyond.

4 5 6

3 2

1

MAIN ENTRANCE, UPPER LEVEL WELLNESS CENTER

LOCAL RESIDENTS | PROFESSIONALS | PATIENTS

ETTE - Ext Pergola View 2

TTE - Material Detail_Interior

PROGRAM: PUBLIC V. PRIVATE

PUBLIC PROGRAMS (DARK TONES) placed along the pathway to engage with those passing through PRIVATE PROGRAMS (LIGHT TONES) placed further away from the main circulation path to isolate and have quieter atmosphere WOOD SLATTED PERGOLAS

PROGRAM: WALL MATERIALS

PERPENDICULAR WALLS TO PATH: ARTIFICIAL MATERIALS creates the idea of mystery and curiosity related to our natural instincts in biophilic design

8

_VIGNETTE - Ext Pergola View 2

PARALLEL WALLS TO PATH: NATURAL MATERIALS engages the users with the buildings and embrace nature as they are passing in the moment

SKYLIGHT OVER INTERIOR TREES

9

_VIGNETTE - WC PROFESSIONALS Lobby (Perf Wall CIRCULATION: education center + clinic

7

6 8

_VIGNETTE - Ext Pergola View 2

9

CIRCULATION: PATIENTS

_VIGNETTE - CL Lobby

VIGNETTE - Material Detail_Interior _VIGNETTE - WC Lobby (Perf Wall PERFORATED METAL WALLS

wellness center + clinic

2

VIGNETTE - L3 ED Lobby

3

VIGNETTE - L3 WC Atrium

CIRCULATION: LOCALS

clinic + wellness center + education center OPEN ATRIUM

REFLECTIONS FINAL CRITIQUE JURY FEEDBACK

MAY 22, 2021

MASSING FORM IN BIOPHILIA

JURORS PRESENT

Biophilic architecture typically involves organically formed masses of the building. Why did you choose to make the form angular?

After doing research on projects that related to the natural environment, it was evident that the first design instinct was to make an irregular shaped mass as a way to connect with nature. However, the main concept of my project is to also create a safe space that welcomes locals, and from experience, the organically shaped projects usually received backlash as it was seen as more sculptural to the space than functional. In addition, in keeping the idea of "balance" between the natural and built environment alive in the project, I felt it was important to keep the visual vernacular of the space intact, and apply the organic moves into something indirect to the users, such as the circulation.

marissa herbert | WRT Design jesse mainwaring | digsau john keene | WRT Design jacklynn niemiec | drexel faculty rob heister | alumni, cutler anderson architects

FURTHER EXPLORATIONS

What would you do more if you had three more months for this project?

Explore more of the smaller moments. The great thing of this project is how easily you enhance the design at different scales. Something that would make this project more connected to its narrative is examining the smaller details of which the users interact with the space. What are the different conditions needed in a space for one person versus a group of fifty people? Do the materials change? As time passes, a big element that will be evident is the wear of the natural materials on site.

Can these signs become a piece of the narrative that develops into a historical landmark of the city? 

 

OPEN COURTYARD OUTSIDE LIBRARY, SOUTH-FACING VIEW

LOCAL RESIDENTS | PROFESSIONALS | PATIENTS

saudades (n.)

a deep emotional state of melancholic longing for a thing that is absent

in memory of anthony cardinale

thank you for helping me explore and challenge myself in the field that would eventually become my future may your smile forever brighten this world