Open Spaces Vertical Housing in São Paulo: Vila Romana Case

Abstract

This paper presents a research linked to the QUAPA Laboratory – Brazil’s Landscaping Portrait, from the FAUUSP. The object of this study is the São Paulo verticalization phenomena, more precisely the housing production, analyzing its open spaces from the programmatic and spatial point of view and its influence in the city’s open spaces system formation during the 1994 – 2007 period. Large apartament buildings complexes were constructed and sold in São Paulo, while consolidated typologies, such as the isolated centralized high-hise surrounded by recreation equipment were kept as a option. Those construction undertakings increasily employed more leisure equipaments expanding its numbers and variety, and quickly they left the category of innovation to become a necessity, changing the design of its open spaces. Advertising campaigns make use of the “green” spaces, landscaping design and leisure areas to sell apartments. All this production brings changes to the city landscape. The study of the space production agents, specially the government urban legislation and the real state market make us to understand the design of those spaces. Vila Romana neighborhood is a example of this phenomenon and has choosed a case study. The size expansion of the apartment building complexes and the increasing intricacy of its open spaces programs brings new design possibilities, with new ways of appropriation and perception, in the private and public spaces, and finally, in the city.