Porto Feliz Park

The Municipal Park of Porto Feliz was conceived by us at Ohtake with the participation of landscape architect Ricardo Cardim. The initial problem posed to the project lies in the desired relationship between the “built and the natural” and the consequent forms of appropriation and everyday use by the local population. The formal response is established through a relationship of contrast, that is, expressive architectural forms in contact with dense green areas, stitched together by paths that traverse different moments of experience. Through this diversity of uses and spaces, the project seeks to enhance social diversity and its coexistence within high-quality public spaces.

In the areas designated for outdoor activities, such as the children’s area, multipurpose sports court, skate park, pet area, and fitness space, we sought to create a more pleasant character by inserting these activities within dense wooded areas connected by circulation paths with natural paving. As a counterpoint, a terraced plaza receives the punctual planting of slender, low-shade trees typical of Brazil. This space functions as a solarium for leisure and relaxation, while simultaneously serving as seating for the park’s acoustic shell. In this way, we designed the ground level as a path as rich as its variations of light, shade, uses, and sensations.

Overlapping the ground design is a large curvilinear walkway, conceived as an architectural gesture that gives unity and identity to the park as a public facility at the scale of the city. In addition to this role, it also serves a dual function: as a canopy, it provides shade for support programs located at ground level, such as restrooms, storage areas, kiosks, and snack bars; as a public promenade, in continuity with the sidewalk, it rises up to 14 meters above ground level to offer an alternative route, with plazas set among the treetops and viewpoints overlooking the city.