Lapi 1

São Paulo, 2024 – While the Pinheiros neighborhood in the West Zone of São Paulo is currently undergoing intense transformation, the Largo da Batata area – one of the neighborhood's historically vibrant areas – takes a new step in its redevelopment with the opening of the LAPI development in March 2024. Developed by Jacarandá Capital, with architecture by Superlimão and a masterplan by Spol, the development will occupy nearly 10,000 m² of land, resulting from the integration of 29 properties spread across three blocks. Acquired by the developer, the 29 lots will, upon completion, form a mixed-use complex with shops, restaurants, apartments, and commercial spaces, in an architectural ensemble that blends retrofits and new construction. In this first phase, to be inaugurated this month, Block 2 will be delivered. It connects Fernão Dias and Guaicuí streets and will house shops and restaurants, all with facades facing an interior square equipped with street furniture and a large ingazeiro tree. The LAPI development is expected to be fully inaugurated. A new experience of staying in the city: LAPI integrates with the main transportation hub in the West Zone and establishes a significant outdoor space. Integration is one of LAPI's key words – a combination of the first syllables of 'Largo' and 'Pinheiros'. The area is a strategic intersection with the city's main roads and constitutes the main intermodal public transportation hub in the West Zone, with thousands of people passing through daily. In this scenario, through the redevelopment of the blocks, LAPI establishes a new experience of occupation by rethinking urban space in an efficient and inclusive way that preserves the neighborhood's identity and establishes a landmark with transformative potential. "The idea is for the neighborhood to gradually integrate these new uses of spaces, so that this flow, starting from LAPI and expanding beyond the block, contributes to improving urban safety, conviviality, and the much-desired development of Largo," says Thiago Rodrigues, partner and architect at Superlimão. Based on a mapping of the flow of people and their profiles, the design began with a careful curation of services, shops, and restaurants, interspersed with business and leisure areas. The idea is to keep the space bustling for as long as possible, generating foot traffic, lighting, and security. Demolish and build: new spaces opened for a more dynamic city LAPI opens its doors at a time of transformation in the region, a result of Operation Faria Lima and other Master Plan initiatives that encourage dialogue between business development and urban needs. Considering the direct impact of LAPI on the user's level, the project's design is based on respect for and preservation of local heritage, prioritizing reuse and revealing the city's history in both retrofits and new construction. The valorization of vacant areas is a crucial aspect of the project. Irregular buildings lacking architectural features were strategically demolished to create open spaces that provide light, ventilation, and visual permeability. This process not only revitalizes the environment but also contributes to aesthetic and functional improvements, transforming previously neglected areas into dynamic spaces. The development reveals an approach that enhances interaction with the urban environment, in addition to addressing fundamental urban issues, such as the dynamic façade with stores facing the street and others facing the interior. All circulation was directed to the interior, following the principle that, in residential buildings, entry will occur from the interior of the development. This approach also applies to commercial units, which are accessed exclusively through interior spaces. In mixed-use developments like LAPI, ensuring that offices are open late and residences with access not restricted to certain hours maintains a constant flow of people. By concentrating all access internally, the goal was to create an active and vibrant atmosphere, essential for the enjoyment of the space. Sustainability: New Use for Old Buildings and Materials The project's sustainability lies in its ability to efficiently use resources, preserving existing buildings as much as possible and reducing construction waste. Through the management of demolition waste, 20 cubic meters of original roof timber were reused to manufacture the street furniture used in the common areas. Furthermore, the ceramic tiles, after being demolished, were integrated into the project's flooring. The pursuit of sustainable practices also includes investments in technologies to optimize energy and water consumption, reinforcing the commitment to contemporary and environmentally conscious practices. With the remaining areas resulting from the addition of active facades and the demolition of irregular areas across all lots, footage of new areas built on current and optimized structural systems was also deposited, attached to the existing structures. The result is an approach that preserves the original and significant, establishing a harmonious dialogue between past and present.