Educandario Dom Duarte, located in the west zone of the municipality of Sao Paulo, plays an important role as a natural reserve in the region, predominantly occupied by low-income families in housing developments and informal settlements. Seeking to serve this population, the architectural proposal for the new Cultural, Social and Sports Complex of the Solidary League is inserted in an area of 43 thousand square meters within the EDD, and promotes, through the concept of “natural preservation as a tool of social integration”, arrangements that encourage communication, encounters and interaction between users with respect for the environment. The architectural conception is formed by 4 premises:

RESPECT FOR NATURE . ECONOMICITY . SOCIABILITY . SUSTAINABILITY

RESPECT FOR NATURE
The design of the buildings in the complex is based on low visual impact strategies in relation to the surrounding nature, such as the adoption of green volumes that blend into the green landscape, and voids in the main building that allow the preservation of views to the surrounding vegetation and to the historic buildings that surround the intervention area. The transparency and lightness provided by the use of steel promotes a smooth implantation of the buildings at different levels, adapting to the topography and preserving the vegetation.

ECONOMICITY
Because it is a set of buildings aimed at speed of execution, efficiency, little waste and low cost, prefabricated systems were adopted. The changing rooms and ground level of the main building are composed of structural concrete blocks. The upper level of the main building uses a metallic structure and steel deck slabs to compose large spans with flexible spaces. The metal structure is also used to cover the events area, the Olympic swimming pool, the multi-sports court and the grandstands on soccer field 1. The auditorium is made up of precast concrete structures to be fitted in place.

SOCIABILITY
The configuration of proximity among the buildings and the paved connections created in the middle of the landscaping to connect each block of activities, encourages interaction between users. The large circular square positioned next to the court and the skate park, allows the practice of leisure activities while preserving the views of the historic buildings of the Headquarters and the Theater. The quiet accommodation with the environment strengthens social bonds using nature as a preserved and admired scenario.

SUSTAINABILITY
The project was conceived based on insolation and ventilation studies, using the Solar Chart. In the main building, by creating offset blocks with free openings between them, cross ventilation is enhanced. Vertical brises protect the east and west façades, where sunlight is most critical. The green roof composed of organic substrates that require low maintenance, allows the creation of a layer of thermal inertia that provides environmental comfort, at the same time that it collects rainwater for reuse, accommodates photovoltaic panels and incorporates skylights for natural lighting, promoting the overall energy efficiency.

Sustainable Strategies
1. Collection of rainwater for reuse in toilets and garden irrigation. Use of upper and lower reservoir.
2. Vertical louvres made of perforated metal sheets, provide sun protection on façades with the most critical sunlight, with transparency and lightness.
3. Construction system of 20 cm thick concrete blocks provide good thermal inertia for the internal spaces, as well as the dry-wall with thermoacoustic insulation on the 1st floor of the main building.
4. Natural cross ventilation penetrates between the building blocks, providing comfort in circulation and living areas.
5. The green cover composed of organic substrates, requires low maintenance, has good thermal inertia, and helps capture rainwater for reuse.
6. Photovoltaic panels feed the building’s energy system, generating clean energy from the solar source.
7. Skylights contribute to the building’s energy efficiency by allowing natural light to enter, thus requiring less use of artificial lighting.