Marina Rosa

The Porto Olimpico Design Competition was launched by Rio de Janeiro’s Municipal Government in preparation for the 2016 Olympic Games. Its briefing contemplated a provisional Architectural Program to be used during the games, and another definitive program for after the event. The final goal was to requalify the region, highlighting its vocation for housing, commerce, and touristic services.

The design presented was intended as a reference for the qualification of its surroundings, disrupting the rigid commercial logic that traditionally configured the city’s blocks. The fundamental vision was to establish connections over the urban fabric. Public spaces and built volumes were defined as to encourage spontaneous routes and uses.

The organization of the architectural program seeks integration; there is no segregation of zones with different uses, but a vertical layering that goes from public to private. At ground level, the Master Plan proposes abundant commercial and services, shaded pathways, and dynamic routes permeated by public spaces for leisure. Over that, there is the element that articulates and connects the proposal. This is a linear, snake-like structure that hosts the Convention, Business and Exhibition Centres, Services and Hotels. Its proportions, long and relatively low, assure that it has a discrete expression in the landscape, ceding room for the city’s natural beauty to be appreciated. Symbolically, the elements that have the most substantial visual impact on the Master Plan are the housing towers. These punctual, high structures act as landmarks while also keeping enough distance between them to preserve the existing views.