Ijara Building / City Arquitetura
Text description provided by architects. Located on the corners of Igarapava and Sambaíba Streets, in the lower part of Alto Leblon, in Rio de Janeiro, the Igara Building features architectural design by Citée Arquitetura, by partners Fernando Costa and Celso Rayol, and landscaping by Embyá and Interiores. Manga Rosa Arquitetura.
Igara is inspired by the names of the surrounding streets, enhancing the direct relationship with the vocation of the place. The project concept used the etymology of “Igarapava”, a term of Tupi origin meaning “canoe port”, and the meaning of “Sambaíba”, the name given to the indigenous Sarmientos shrub in the Brazilian Cerrado region. The Citée project started from these meanings to bring back the idea of the power of the tree. With its rooted foundation, as a safe and integral harbor connected to the earth, the building seeks the rising sky.
Balconies have retractable glass enclosures integrated into living rooms and bedrooms, providing more natural light, ventilation and a feeling of freedom, as well as better use of space. The idea is to integrate the interior with the exterior, while at the same time allowing spatial freedom for the residents.
The concept of rooting and ascending to the sky is evident through the colors on the facade, which range from earthy and dark colors at the base, to light and soft colors at the top of the building. In this relationship, the large canopy of the tree will be the building itself, a delicate mesh element conveying the idea of this branching closure, which embraces and protects like a nest.
On the first floors, the grid appears in a more focused and closed way, creating a sense of solidity and foundation. This architectural choice not only reinforces the base of the building, but also suggests the idea of deep rooting, anchoring the collection firmly and powerfully. As you ascend along the structure, a gradual transformation unfolds. The mesh, which was dense and compact, begins to open up, revealing fluids advancing toward the upper floors.
The building is located above the rooftops and has a garden terrace intended to be a social environment, with species of coastal plants, from Restinga. There is also a botanical garden and an area to enjoy the surrounding landscape with a privileged view of the sea. The view from the top matches the awe we feel when reaching the highest branch of a mighty tree.
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