Incremental regeneration

Rio Harbour Tactical Activation Plans

Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Client: Construction Group

Programme: Regeneration strategy and tactial activation plans and campaigns for a derelict harbour area

The Activation Plan for Rio’s Western Harbour

Rio’s Harbour area has caught international attention for it regeneration programme “Porto Maravilha”. The project is already in full swing in the Eastern part close to downtown. But the Western Harbour is not benefiting equally. Because the area is derelict and unstructured, it has proven risky for developers to build there, thus they have built elsewhere, waiting for this area to happen someday. However the area concentrates most vacant land and has the highest building potentials (40 to 50 floor towers).

The activation plan aims to kick start the development of Rio harbour’s western side.
It focuses on bringing new uses, and thereby improving connectivity and the environment.

Key steps of the activation plan are: Study of site potential and constraints, development of activation concepts, partner networking, and eventually the implementation of a programme of temporary and semi-permanent events and interventions.

Landowners and the development corporation have initiated the activation process which integrates the existing projects. New partners in the activation process are: event producers, artists, local fashion industry, commercial sponsors, and public and philanthropic institutions

As urbanists MLA+ offers a holistic approach. The Activation Plan delivers more than a marketing initiative, because we look at the bigger, urban picture. In our practice as urbanists, as well as architects, space, people and contemporary themes are equally important. We bring them to together to create new and inspiring individual solutions for each property.

Stages:
2015 Activation strategy workshops
2016 –  Tactical Activation plans

Team:
MLA+: Markus Appenzeller, Martin Probst, Rafael Saraiva