The
SESC Parque Dom Pedro II was recognized as one of the four best projects in Latin America by the
Holcim Foundation Awards, an international award aimed at initiatives that combine
architectural innovation,
sustainability, and
social impact. Coordinated by architects Fernanda Barbara and Fabio Valentim from the UNA Barbara and Valentim Architects office, the project will receive a
US$ 40 thousand award and will participate in the official ceremony on November 20, during the
Venice Architecture Biennale.
(UNA Barbara e Valentim/Sesc SP/Divulgação)
The new unit, which is still under construction in downtown São Paulo, was selected for its integrated approach, capable of uniting
spatial quality,
long-term environmental solutions, and an
urban vision aimed at the requalification of the territory. The proposal for the SESC Parque Dom Pedro II expresses how cultural and sports facilities can contribute to transforming historically degraded central areas, offering
infrastructure, community, and nature on a metropolitan scale.
SESC Parque Dom Pedro II: architecture, territory, and social impact
(UNA Barbara e Valentim/Sesc SP/Divulgação)
The SESC Parque Dom Pedro II project stems from the desire to
restore vitality to a strategic area of the city, located in front of the Municipal Market and near the Catavento Museum. With a
eight-story building (six of them intended for public use), the complex will occupy 30,000 m² with
activities that encompass culture, sport, leisure, and well-being. Swimming pools, gyms, libraries, restaurants, gym rooms, scenic space, and green areas structure the program, allowing different audiences to find, in the same space,
diverse and complementary services.
(UNA Barbara e Valentim/Divulgação)
The volumetry of the floors, arranged as
stacked horizontal blocks, allows the scaling to create
large covered terraces. These spaces function as
lookouts facing the Cantareira Mountains and the urban landscape of the capital. By recovering the collective use of an underused plot, the institution contributes to a
gradual transformation, aligned with the reoccupation and qualitative densification of the downtown São Paulo. The forecast is that the complex will have the capacity to receive up to
5,000 visitors per day when inaugurated, expected in the
first half of 2026.
Sustainability at SESC Parque Dom Pedro II
(UNA Barbara e Valentim/Sesc SP/Divulgação)
The distinction received by the Holcim Foundation Awards reflects the prominence of
environmental solutions incorporated into the project. SESC Parque Dom Pedro II was conceived with a series of strategies that reduce the building's energy impact and strengthen the dialogue with the climate of São Paulo. Among them are the use of
solar panels,
high-efficiency water heating systems, and
natural ventilation that traverses the building, eliminating the continual use of artificial air conditioning. Landscaping plays an essential role in
thermal regulation and in the
creation of microclimates. The building will feature a planted internal square, staggered terraces with vegetation, and over 140 new trees distributed across different levels. The
presence of water also extends to the hydraulic project, which incorporates
capillary irrigation with rainwater reuse and a
water mirror that serves as an aesthetic element and thermal moderator.
International Recognition
Founded in 2004, the Holcim Foundation Awards is one of the main global awards for projects that combine
architectural excellence and environmental responsibility. Names such as
Francis Kéré,
Alejandro Aravena, and
Bjarke Ingels have passed through its editions, reinforcing the innovative character and relevance of the prize in the discussion about the
future of construction. Additionally, SESC Parque Dom Pedro II has already accumulated
awards from other institutions even before it is completed. These include: International Architecture Biennale of Buenos Aires (2024), Santa Cruz Architecture Biennale (2022), and the Institute of Architects of Brazil – São Paulo Department (2021). The multiple awards indicate the
transformative potential of the proposal and reaffirm the importance of thinking of architecture as a
social, environmental, and cultural agent.
