“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’
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