Science and Technology Park of Itajubá
Location
The city of Itajubá lies in the southern state of Minas Gerais and has a population of approximately 100,000 inhabitants. The presence of a large number of postgraduates researchers guarantees to the city a condition of an exponent in scientific research in Brazil and worldwide. The city is also nationally recognized for having one of the best university systems in the country. Meanwhile, the city has one of the largest industrial districts in the southern region of the state, with large and medium sized industries, many of which are undergoing expansion and formation of new jobs, employing today almost ten thousand people. These facts contribute for Itajubá to reach one of the highest indices of human development (HDI) of Minas Gerais. Such an environment is propitious to the installation of the Science and Technology Park - a kind of enterprise in which the partnership between the three spheres of government, private companies and the Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI) sets up a powerful innovation and development factor, both locally and for the country.
The urban design
Designed with an emphasis on environmental and landscape quality, the park will become a place for public use, a leisure option for the city and its surroundings, inducing tourism to the region. The urban design and landscape assumes that the place must have very different characteristics from a conventional urban occupation, with respect to the low density and the integration of the built environment with nature which is intended in this situation. It is proposed, in short, that the place has characteristics common to a park, properly, more than a mere expansion of the city, which is reflected in the urbanization of only approximately 670.000m2 of 2.5hec enrolled in the perimeter of PCTI.
Topography and site occupation
The main occupied areas in the project arise directly from the map of slopes, in that the areas inclined at more than 25% are preserved. This strategy allows the two vectors occupied by buildings are surrounded by green areas preserved by the project. Views to the surrounding landscape are also provided from the buildings, through the establishment of parameters for variable occupancy rate and coefficient of utilization that result in an escalation between buildings implanted in both vectors.
A third vector, defined by the future Itajubá City Park, articulates with the two previously mentioned in a permanent preservation area. It is proposed that the spatial articulation of the three vectors is established and reinforced by the creation of a large circular plaza, an essentially public site, a great meeting point with dense afforestation and a landscaping, scientific and recreational use of the ‘water’ element. Given its characteristics, the name of Agora is assigned to this space, as in the public squares of the classical Greek city.
Along the flatter footprint, a dam is proposed on the José Pereira stream to create a lake with approximately 10 hectares, an important element in the overall landscape of the park that can also serve as a tool for measurement and control of floods.
Access and road infrastructure
The park is accessed from the east by the highway MG -383 and from southwest by Avenida BPS, which follows the path of the José Pereira stream and can lead, without accented gaps, the flow of visitors from the city and the University, encouraging the use of bicycles. The UNIFEI and buildings that comprise Phase I of PCTI are situated on Avenida BPS, and the proximity to the installation site of the PCTI Phase II is a decisive factor for the necessary integration between business and academic environments.
Landscaping
It is intended to provide interaction between the local landscape and urban areas of the park, marked mainly by the new lake. The afforestation of streets in the urban planning is thematic, that is, each street corresponding to a particular native tree species. Perennial species that require less water for irrigation, besides being able to promote sustainable landscaping and maintenance savings, are the most used. The emphasis of the landscape design is given to the Agora, which functions as an articulator of the park and will have spaces for events, leisure and contemplation. Furthermore, the inclusion of several devices that enhance the well-being of users (benches, tables, vases, lighting) qualifies the sidewalks and the Agora.
TECH CHART
LOCATION Itajubá, Minas Gerais (Brazil)
CLIENT Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI)
ARCHITECTS Bruno Campos, Marcelo Fontes, Silvio Todeschi ( BCMF Architects ) , Fernando Maculan , Mariza Machado Coelho ( Mach Architects )
TEAM Mara Coelho, Patricia Bueno, André Resende , Anna Lobato , Gabriela Gomes , Leonardo Rodrigues , Marta Guedán Carolina Eboli, Luisy Silva , Henrique Amin
RENDERINGS BCMF Arquitetos ( André Resende )
COORDINATION AND URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE Engesolo
ACOUSTICS Oppus
AR CONDITIONING Air Project
WAYFINDING / GRAPHIC DESIGN Hardy Design
CONCRETE STRUCTURE Engeserj
STEEL STRUCTURE Jansen Domingues
WATERPROOFING Firmino Siqueira / Isolate
ELECTRICAL, AUTOMATION AND SONORIZATION Engeth
LANDSCAPE Vazio S/A
HIDRAULICS AND FIREPROOF INSTALATIONS MM Projects
MASTERPLAN AREA 666,216 m2
ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING 6,455 m2
BUSINESS INCUBATOR 5,378 m2
SUPPORT CENTER 1,896 m2
DATE OF PROJECT 2011-2012
DATE OF CONSTRUCTION not yet initiated