Ícaro Jardins da Graciosa: green, light and comfort

A visit to the terrain was fundamental in the conceiving of this three-tower complex project - the first executed by the Studio in the city of Curitiba. With 21 apartments divided into the 3 buildings, the grounding principles were to make the most of natural lighting while also ensuring residents’ privacy: the design had to keep the towers from blocking each other’s light and avoid establishing visual contact between apartments.
A number of studies were necessary during the development process, including the use of a drone to analyze the sunlight received and view guaranteed to the units on higher floors. Seeking an integration between Architecture and Landscape, Renata Tilli’s project brought a protagonism to green areas. Planters stretch around the building, embracing floor after floor and establishing a visual identity for the whole; they serve to filter the view for those apartments that overlook the forest and the golf course abutting the lot.
Verandas provide circulation along nearly the whole of the perimeter on each floor, blurring the borders between interior and exterior spaces and providing one with the impression of being in a house. The apartments, with generously proportioned, integrated spaces, have flexible floorplans that adapt to different demands according to the needs of dwellers: each tower has different blueprint typologies to choose from and all units are adaptable to people with special needs. Furthermore, all suites are smart-implanted facing North. All apartments are airy with the wide floor-to-ceiling openings. On the ground floor, the generous common areas bring fluidity from glass and are surrounded by gardens, natural light and ventilation. The cobogó wall, signed by Arthur Casas, marks the entrance of the building and contributes to the ventilation and horizontality of the project. The building makes the most of natural lighting while also ensuring privacy: the design keeps the towers from blocking each other’s light and avoids establishing visual contact between apartments. The structure’s concrete supports seek an equilibrium, serving as a counterpoint to the wood and glass of the facade – materials that emphasize the design’s root concepts of permeability and transparency. Ícaro rethinks traditional concepts, bringing a notion of scale that refers more to a home than an apartment - such privacy and breadth provided in their environments.

The energy efficiency achieved by the project, combined with the choice for ecologically appropriate technologies and supply systems, led the building to earn the sustainability seal GBC Brasil Casa - Gold Category. The project uses solar energy, all lighting uses efficient bulbs and the outside areas have presence sensors to reduce energy waste. To further reduce energy costs, there are only VRF air conditioning and regenerative elevators. Furthermore, there was careful resource management in the construction site, generating mostly recyclable waste, such as metal and wood, and materials certified as environment-friendly were prioritized. A reuse water system will be used for cleaning purposes as well as to irrigate the planters that surround the building and all vegetation in the common areas. This irrigation system is special for it´s reduced waste made possible due to humidity sensors and a drop-release gadget triggered by each plant’s necessity.
Visits to the terrain were fundamental to conceive the project. Many studies were necessary during the development process, including the use of a drone to analyze the sunlight and view of the units on higher floors. Based on Neuroarchitecture principles, the project takes into account that an environment is capable of communicating with our emotional perception, impacting the experience of the space’s user. The concept of biophilia was implemented to bring welfare: studies show how important contact with green is and its impacts on everyday life, giving even more meaning to the planters that can be seen from all parts of the apartments. The building is located next to community resources, public transportation and green areas; the native vegetation was maintained and merged into the landscape design. In the construction site, erosion and pollution were controlled and a trucktire cleaning technology was implemented to keep waste from leaving the site.