Mixed-use projects are trending
“The idea of a purely shopping building is disappearing. Integration with other uses is now the norm, not the exception.” The sentence is by Bernardo Fort-Brescia, co-founder of Arquitectonica, given in an interview with GRI Club Real Estate Brazil. With awarded projects in the four corners of the world, including São Paulo, the executive believes that Brazilian cities offer good opportunities for innovation, as population concentration and a mild climate do not impose barriers to creativity. “It’s the ideal environment for exploring new concepts” says Brescia.
A great example – considered more adaptable to Brazil – is the Brickell City Centre, in Miami, Florida, which was designed by Arquitectonica. More than a retail shopping center with restaurants and theaters, the development has a hotel, apartments and offices, making it practically a city. The design of the mall at Brickell City Centre is typical of the new urbanism, which rests on the fact that there is no entrance and exit threshold, but an integration with the surroundings that facilitates the flow, as explained by Brescia. “The experience inside a box was considered revolutionary in the post-war period, but the concern with sustainability and the ideas of a new urbanism changed this approach over time. Outdoor shopping emerged in this context and was accelerated by the pandemic.”
At Brickell City Centre, there is a roof on the center strip to protect visitors from the rain. The cover is made up of translucent three-dimensional ribbons that block the sun’s rays and reduce radiated heat. In addition, its shape allows for capturing the breeze. “The result is a lower naturally induced temperature and less humidity. It’s a natural air conditioner”, says the expert.
The article originally appeared in GRIHub.
