LDB
An urban retail project in Sao Paulo, where shopping centers are protected, controlled, energy intensive and limited to four stories, this project carved the interior and rose to six stories, is infused with daylight and is highly permeable with the surrounding environment. The design asked a question bordering on science fiction (attributed to Janine Beynus). What if cities performed as the native ecosystem? The 'ecological performance standards' of the Atlantic Rainforest provides metrics for buildings to do what the rainforest does. This design explored the most powerful, being water: creating rain clouds that serve the region and beyond. A champion species, the tank bromeliad inspired the multifunctionalism of the 'bromeliad' roof, collecting 50% of precipitation for building use, and atomizing the rest. What if a building could create a raincloud? What if all the buildings in this city could?