Arena Arbor
Type
Architecture
Location
Recife, Brazil
Year
2018
Paulo Duca, Lissa Saruhashi
Structural Engineer
João Carvalho
Photographer
Guilherme Paiva
The project for the arena at CasaCor Pernambuco 2018, America’s most important collective of interior design, architecture and landscape, was developed by parametric design’s methodologies which consists in programming design and architectural solutions through computational algorithms.
The whole space was conceived as a metaphor related to the tree, due to its meaningful symbolism as a natural element representational of life and the ludic aspect it brings in our memories for playful and comforting moments, that will deeply affect the experiences people will have when inside the arena. Also, by analyzing the morphology of a tree it was possible to understand the functional particularity of each component for the construction of the whole, which was fundamental for Arbor Arena’s location, floor, structure, roof and lighting, as the tree’s environment, root, trunk, crown and flower.
The deck forms the base that provides stability for the entire structure above it and the grandstand, formed by modules that arise from the floor, generates a topography within the space. Just like the roots of a tree, people can have the experience of being able to walk, climb, sit on it. The structure’s woodwork made in maçaranduba, corresponds to the trunk that offers support to all the rest of the Arena’s component parts. Its pieces are fixed by metal vertices and both corten steel entry frames present a perforated pattern referring to the triangular design.​
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At their top central point, the modules are interrupted to insert a zenith opening allowing natural light to enter, just as light rays pass through the treetops. Where there is also a luminous sculpture descending from that point as a representation of the flower of the Arena with LED strips embedded inside the wooden profiles that refracts and lightens only the edges of the acrylic pieces.
