herzog & de meuron-designed arena do morro opens in brazil

herzog & de meuron-designed arena do morro opens in brazil
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the ‘arena do morro’, designed by herzog & de meuron, is a permeable gymnasium able to host a variety of public events for the community of mãe luiza, in brazil. at its basis, the building utilizes the traditional element of a unifying large roof, becoming a symbol for physical and social activity in the town and establishing a new scale to the region. rather than being uniform and fully connected, the white structure is composed of a series of open and diagonally oriented panels, which overlap to allow light transmission while preventing water entry. underneath, the facility includes one large sports field with seating for 420 people, multipurpose rooms for dance and education, changing areas and public restrooms, as a well as a terrace providing ocean views.

the facility is distinguished by a large roof, which establishes a new scale to the community
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the permeability of the roof structure translates to the building’s walls. interior spaces are defined by curvilinear enclosures made of vertically stacked concrete blocks, which are rotated to allow varying degrees of openness with the exterior. additionally, these thresholds stop short of reaching the roof above, to promote ventilation and keep the facility cool without the use of mechanical systems.

the white corrugated metal contrasts the surrounding red tile roofs
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the building replaces an existing concrete field without walls or a roof. the gymnasium is the first project within a larger urban proposal for mãe luiza developed with the centro sócio pastoral nossa senhora de conceição and the ameropa foundation in 2009.

see designboom’s previous coverage of the arena do morro during its design phase.

the roof structure creates a dynamic light patterning throughout the arena
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tiered seating around the large sports field accommodates 420 people
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interior spaces are defined by curvilinear walls
photo © [email protected]

project info:

location: mãe luiza, natal, brazil
dates: 2011-2012 (design) 2012-2014 (construction)
site area: 56,1146 sqf / 5,207 sqm
gross floor area: 21,142 sqf / 1,964 sqm
footprint: 20,027 sqf / 1,861 sqm
building dimensions: length 303 ft / 92 m; width 106 ft / 32m; height 37 ft / 11 m
client: ameropa foundation, centro sócio pastoral nossa senhora de conceição, natal, brazil
design consultant: herzog & de meuron
partners: jacques herzog, pierre de meuron, ascan mergenthaler (partner in charge), markus widmer
project team: tomislav dushanov (associate, project director), mariana vilela (project manager)
melissa shin, diogo rabaça figueiredo, kai strehlke (digital technologies), edyta augustynowicz
(digital technologies), daniel fernández florez
executive architect, electrical, plumbing, structural engineering, landscape design: plantae –
planejamento técnico em arquitetura e engenharia ltda.
artwork: flávio freitas
photography: leonardo finotti