THE IMAGE OF THE CITY
Every city has traces and striking features that define its identity and form its image. The work involving the adaptation of Annex IV Building to shelter the USP Law School Library is strongly representative and significant for the city, since it is located in the center of São Paulo and must establish functional and symbolic connection with the historical building of the Largo São Francisco, listed by CONDEPHAAT – Council for Defense of Historical Heritage, Archaeological, Artistic and Tourist of the State of São Paulo -, besides being located near important historical landmarks such as Sé Square with the “mark zero” and its famous Cathedral.
The current situation in Annex IV is a picture of structural and functional inadequacy, with part of the collection precarious and unhealthy, set apart of any open relationship with the city. With the objective of promoting the restructuring of the architectural complex, we presented a proposal firmed in the relations of building’s openings to the public space, with a comprehensive renovation, which starts from structural engineering solutions, environmental comfort, furniture design, to incorporate a set of solutions that makes the USP New Library a contemporary, innovative building integrated with urban life.
THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION
The fundamental decision to integrate the building with urban life is the opening of the ground floor, which invariably becomes a public space with coffee and exhibition space. The ground floor will have alternate closing at night for safety and preservation. Another way to connect with the city happens on the roof, which provides covered and uncovered space with privileged views of the city and external furniture that foment social interaction and rest.
Other design decisions are connective points, such as the auditorium foyer on the twelfth floor that opens into the city providing beautiful views from water’s edge; The study spaces, reading and collection research, which always aim the social activation and continuous interaction forms.
The desired connection with the historic building would be incoherent with the urban reality if it were carried out by tunnel or catwalk, because both solutions aggressively interfere in the historical patrimony and presents itself technically complicated. Our proposal encourages simple mobility of the pedestrian that gives life to the cities, only facilitating their access with high crossing lanes and adequate signaling.