b720 Fermin Vazquez Arquitectos shared with us their plan for a new waterfront in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil. The project, which includes a 2.5-km stretch of waterfront in the city’s dock area, is aimed at transforming the Cais Mauá dock area, a rundown, disused part of the city, into a business, culture and leisure centre for the 2014 World Cup. The project, to revitalize the former dock area, is expected to cost approximately E198 million. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The intervention, to be carried out in a 181,000-m2 area, will involve building a business park, a hotel, and a shopping centre designed to meet sustainability criteria. Disused warehouses in the dock area, built in 1920, will be transformed into dining and shopping spaces while maintaining the original appearance of the buildings. Respect for the cultural and historical significance of the buildings to be restored is a key aspect of the architectural project, which also stresses a responsible use of natural resources.
