AQUAPRAÇA,
BELÉM, BRAZIL
Presented
at the Arsenale during the Venice Biennial of Architecture, AquaPraça is a
special project designed by Carlo Ratti Associati and Höweler + Yoon Architecture. Drawing
inspiration from Aldo Rossi's poetic exploration of architecture’s role in
urban settings through his Teatro il Mondo, the project also looks to a future
where architecture and the environment can coexist in perfect symbiosis.
Designed
like a floating square, AquaPraça will travel from Venice to Belém in Brazil,
becoming an integral part of the Italian Pavilion at COP30 (November 10th-21st,
2025). Covering an area of over 400 square meters (4,000 square feet), the
project literally carves public space out of the sea, creating physical interaction
between the built environment and natural forces.
The submerged structure floats
by drawing on the basic principles of balance, displacement, and buoyancy. By
holding and releasing water, AquaPraça constantly calibrates itself to keep a
minimum distance above the surrounding water level. The public experiences
dynamic fluctuations in the rising sea level at eye level, creating new
perspectives on natural and urban systems.
Functionally
speaking, AquaPraça can host over 150 people for exhibitions, workshops,
symposiums, and cultural events. After the summit, the platform will remain an
integral part of Belém's cultural infrastructure, turning into a community
space for promoting ongoing social engagement. The project is being carried out
in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International
Cooperation and the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, and in conjunction
with CIHEAM Bari and the World Bank Group’s Connect4Climate program.
