Gymnasium at Mãe Luiza Unveiled / Herzog & de Meuron

Nov 2011

By Karissa Rosenfield — Filed under: Architecture News ,Cultural ,Public Facilities , Brazil, Herzog de Meuron

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Courtesy of Herzog & de Meuron Press Release

Together with the local Natal organization Centro Sócio Pastoral Nossa Senhora da Conceiçao (Centro Sócio), Herzog & de Meuron released the design for a new gymnasium at the School of Dinarte Martiz. The gymnasium is the “pioneering architectural project” of a larger urban plan for the neighborhood of Mãe Luiza in Natal, Brazil.

Architects: Herzog & de Meuron
Partner: Jacques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron, Ascan Mergenthaler, Markus Widmer
Project Architects: Tomislav Dushanov (Associate), Mariana Vilela
Client: Centro Sócio Pastoral Nossa Senhora de Conceição
Location: Natal, Brazil
Construction: 2012 - 2013

Continue reading for more information.

Courtesy of Herzog & de Meuron Press Release

Nestled within a beautiful landscape of dunes overlooking the ocean, the neighborhood of Mãe Luiza is the result of a gradually urbanized informal settlement that has endured a tumultuous past. Precise interventions within the overall master plan provide for urban activities that are currently unaccomodated for and enhance the existing underdeveloped activities within Mãe Luiza. New facilities will be clustered together to form a new community center that aims to transform the perception of Mãe Luiza and satisfy the needs of the residents.

Courtesy of Herzog & de Meuron Press Release

The project will begin with the existing concrete field framed by columns and trusses that are the remains of the “old gymnasium.” In order to maintain the personality of the neighborhood, the existing geometry is preserved. The geometry is then extruded over the building area while existing structural bays are kept then repeated, creating a grand roof that is adaptable to all desired activities. The design remains consistent with traditional approaches to large public spaces throughout the North East of Brazil while introducing a new urban scale to Mãe Luiza.

Courtesy of Herzog & de Meuron Press Release

The naturally conditioned building is made up of three main elements – the grand roof, the continuous floor and the single undulating wall. All the elements are constructed with materials and techniques typical for the region.

Ion Andrade, Vice President of Centro Sócio, states in his press release that projects underlying idea is that the “development of low-income communities involves public and private investment in social infrastructure that can absorb the demand of youth in the areas of culture, sports, leisure and professionalization.” He believes the construction of the gymnasium assures a better future for the district of Mãe Luiza.

Reference: Herzog & de Meuron

: Courtesy of Herzog & de Meuron Press Release

: Courtesy of Herzog & de Meuron Press Release

: Courtesy of Herzog & de Meuron Press Release

: Courtesy of Herzog & de Meuron Press Release

Cite:
Rosenfield , Karissa . "Gymnasium at Mãe Luiza Unveiled / Herzog & de Meuron" 28 Nov 2011. ArchDaily. Accessed 25 May 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/187656>

Comments (2)
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Juan Torres says:

It gets the right to be published just because it’s H&DM? It would be a good exercise if every project had a text where archdaily justified why it was selected for publishing. (you wouldn’t even need to make this visible online, just an exercise for the arch daily team to do…)

# November 28, 2011 at 14:33

Leonardo Ximenes says:

@Juan, here’s your justification:
- This project was developed in a place that usually gets little attention from mainstream architects;
- As opposed to Museums and Art Galleries arch students love to see pictures of, this project has actual social relevance;
- This project takes in account limited budget, climate and local labor, things nowadays so alien to the dream world of arch publications and wannabe architects.
Now, why don’t you follow your own advice and edit your comments accordingly?

# November 29, 2011 at 13:50

2:02 AM Nov 29th

Sung Joon Cho

건축가의 Dignity는 이런 프로젝트에서 드러나는듯…
Gymnasium at Mãe Luiza Unveiled / Herzog & de Meuron | ArchDaily http://t.co/fDv2sZHG via @archdaily

8:07 AM Nov 29th

Santi Maggio Savasta

Gymnasium at Mãe Luiza Unveiled / Herzog & de Meuron http://t.co/3F2GP9sa #Architecture #Architettura

9:10 AM Nov 29th

Boughton Butler

RT @ArchDaily: Gymnasium at Mãe Luiza Unveiled / Herzog & de Meuron http://t.co/932ZWVaw #architecture

9:53 AM Nov 29th

Arnau Sallés