Opening of the New Floating Plaza in Belém Offers an Interactive Climate Experience
The floating plaza in Belém offers a unique architectural experience that connects visitors directly with climate change. The plaza stretches over the water as an extension of the local urban fabric, allowing visitors to observe shifting water levels and underwater landscapes in the Amazon Delta firsthand. Lightweight, insulating materials ensure stability, while a new roof protects visitors and creates space for public gatherings and cultural events. The constantly moving water interacts with the structure, making each visit distinct from the last. The plaza is not just a gathering place it creates a cultural platform and sensory experience that allows visitors to understand environmental changes on a human scale, turning the natural setting into a living architectural story.
Floating platform over water with geometric roof and shifting natural light Location and Design Concept
The floating plaza is situated on Guajará Bay, extending from the historic House of Eleven Windows. The plaza aims to create a public floating space that combines culture and nature, making visitors feel part of the surrounding environment. Its design features dynamic lines that respond to water movement, offering a new visual experience from every angle. The plaza allows visitors to witness daily tidal changes in a way that enhances personal understanding of natural shifts.
Open pathways offer visitors a sensory experience responding to tides and changing light Visitor Experience and Circulation
Visitors enter the plaza from a fixed platform and find themselves amid public gathering spaces and event areas. Paths and open areas guide movement smoothly, allowing continuous observation of water levels and underwater landscapes. Platform heights vary to accommodate tidal changes of up to 4 meters, providing a stable and immersive experience. Visitors can participate in cultural activities and environmental dialogues, feeling part of a continuous interaction between water and architecture.
Visitors move freely between shaded zones and floating surfaces, enjoying harmony with nature Architectural Details and Materials
The plaza embodies a sustainable design that balances stability with visual beauty. The floating structure uses lightweight, insulating materials to withstand daily water fluctuations and maintain stability. The new roof provides sun and rain protection and creates versatile gathering spaces. Summary of Materials and Techniques:
- Floating structure made of lightweight, moisture-resistant materials 100% durability - Thermal and waterproof insulating materials covering 85% of the structure - New roof resistant to weather covering 60% of public areas - Slip-resistant flooring for daily circulation safety 95% safety rating - Adaptable public spaces for various events 100% flexibility
A comprehensive view highlights light gradients, water movement, and flow between structure and nature Environmental Integration and Sustainability
The plaza interacts directly with the natural Amazon Delta, serving as a living example of architecture merging with nature. It allows visitors to observe changing water levels and landscapes, offering tangible insight into climate change effects. The project embodies the principles of circularity and sustainability, designed to move from an exhibition setting to a permanent site with long term adaptability and reuse. The floating spaces also accommodate cultural and educational activities, turning the site into a learning and interactive platform.
Final Vision of the Project
The floating plaza provides a complete sensory and architectural experience, blending culture, nature, and education. It demonstrates how to build with nature, not against it, showing architecture as a tool for understanding and interacting with the environment. The platform serves as a model for sustainable and innovative design, inspiring similar projects in coastal areas worldwide. Visitors feel part of a continuous movement between water and floating structures, leaving with a deeper understanding of human impact on the natural environment.
Summary of Materials and Techniques
- Floating structure: lightweight, moisture resistant materials 100% durability - Thermal and waterproof insulation 85% coverage - Roof resistant to weather 60% of public areas - Slip resistant flooring 95% safety rating - Adaptable public gathering spaces 100% flexibility ✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
The floating plaza in Belém offers a visually rich scene, with water movement and light reflections playing across the floating structure, while dynamic lines respond to tidal shifts, creating a continuously renewed sensory experience for each visitor. The open pathways guide circulation smoothly, allowing constant observation of underwater landscapes. Critically, while the plaza relies heavily on natural phenomena to provide a dynamic experience, this may limit control over certain visitor activities during low tides. Nevertheless, the project successfully blends architectural beauty with environmental interaction, offering clear cultural and educational value and emphasizing the importance of integrating architecture with nature.
Architecture professionals can follow ArchUp’s events section for verified updates on exhibitions, conferences, competitions, and results.
https://archup.net/awakening-project-sustainable-architectural-design-integrating-humans-with-nature/ https://archup.net/architecture-future-folded-fabrics/ Dive into the world of architecture – from bold concepts to global competitions – curated with ArchUp. #ArchUp #architecture
