Covering approximately 10,000 m², Mashiach Now Square, located in the northern zone of the city, occupies a strategic position between key thoroughfares in the region and operates as an important pedestrian corridor for those heading toward the Portuguesa–Tietê Station on Metro Line 1 (Blue).
For many years, the square suffered from neglect, marked by poor lighting and lack of maintenance. In 2024, however, Cidade Center Norte signed an adoption agreement with the Santana/Tucuruvi Subprefecture through the “Adote uma Praça” program, created by the Municipal Secretariat of Subprefectures (SMSUB). The revitalization of the square is part of a broader transformation plan for the future Cidade Center Norte district, which seeks to create public spaces integrated both with the new neighborhood and the existing urban fabric, converting what are today parking lots or degraded areas into green spaces.
The development of the Cidade Center Norte district project, aligned with contemporary urban and planning challenges, raised crucial questions for the design of urban open spaces: How can healthier and safer open spaces be articulated in ways that strengthen their potential connections with people? How can we conceive human-scaled environments that restore the pedestrian’s relationship with landscape? And how can we envision an urban future capable of responding to extreme climate events while maintaining dialogue with water bodies and the environmental quality of cities?
In a local context where the automobile has historically dominated over pedestrian priority, the project seeks to reestablish the pedestrian as the central urban agent. Key strategies include sidewalk designs that soften the interface between pedestrian paths and vehicular lanes; the articulation of diverse programs that restore urban life and territorial identity; the creation of contemplative environments and shaded areas for rest and permanence; and a network logic for open spaces, understood as a system composed of squares, linear parks, and public or semipublic areas distributed across the district.
On the environmental front, and given the accelerated frequency of extreme climate events, the design incorporated strategies to enhance the site’s natural character. These include restoring the original landscape through nature-based solutions (NbS), strengthening the existing biome, and proposing new native plantings that transform the area into a cooling zone capable of mitigating heat waves and improving biodiversity conditions.
The conceptual framework developed by Natureza Urbana for the Cidade Center Norte District Park is structured around four layers: Living Landscape, Network of Elements, Activation of Open Spaces, and Intention.
Located along the historically biodiverse margins of the Tietê River, the Living Landscape layer positions nature not merely as a scenic component but as an active environmental asset, generating positive ecological, climatic, and social impacts. Across the entire masterplan, sustainable strategies were defined in parallel with the implementation of a living landscape grounded in nature-based solutions.
To build a cohesive open-space system, it was also necessary to define the elements that structure this network, ensuring a unified identity across different locations within the District Park. The Network of Elements layer therefore establishes a family of components, ranging from urban furniture to larger interventions, which shape the overall character and activate public spaces.
Articulating new open spaces with local culture and daily life, the Activation of Open Spaces layer introduces a new operational front to the project. By proposing uses for different times of day and week, and by supporting everyday activities, commercial areas, sports, leisure, and cultural programs, the design promotes safer, healthier, and more vibrant places for the community.
Grounded in the specific characteristics, rhythms, and needs of each site, the Intention layer reflects both broader urban debates and local demands. This approach results in interventions with distinct identities for each part of the District Park, generating positive impacts on people’s lives and producing spaces aligned with community expectations.
Within this framework, Mashiach Now Square was redesigned with a focus on environmental recovery and the integration of native Atlantic Forest vegetation, the site’s original biome. The landscape design incorporates winding paths and planting beds inspired by the historic river courses that once shaped the northern landscape of São Paulo.
The requalification process included extensive community engagement, coordinated by Instituto Center Norte with the Santana–Tucuruvi Subprefecture, residents of the Zaki Narchi complex, and children from the Municipal School Vereador Antônio Sampaio. From this dialogue, a “Wish List” was developed with the community and local stakeholders, outlining essential uses. The project was structured to respond to these priorities, incorporating leisure, social interaction, and physical activity areas. Programmatic components include a mini sports court, ping-pong tables, a skatepark, outdoor fitness equipment with dedicated areas for seniors and calisthenics, as well as benches, tables, bleachers, rest areas, and a playground with equipment suitable for various age groups.
The curves introduced in the pavement design also inform the geometry of the urban furniture: in-situ cast curved concrete benches, combined with the color palette of equipment and railings, shape the identity of the site and reinforce its sense of place. The main circulation route is marked by concrete paving in varied tones, connecting amenitized areas integrated with the landscape. The cycling path will be incorporated into the city's wider bicycle network, contributing to a more efficient and accessible mobility system.
Sidewalks, paths, and the cycling lane are not only part of the new district layout but also connect directly to São Paulo’s sustainable mobility infrastructure. These routes were designed to maximize connectivity between leisure and social areas, ensuring visual permeability and enhancing safety.
Vegetation preservation was one of the project’s foundational principles. All existing trees were maintained, and an additional 78 trees were planted. The landscape strategy, composed of groundcovers and shrubs with diverse seasonal blooms, attracts native fauna and enhances ecological performance. The result is a leisure area and cooling zone within a previously hardscaped and overheated environment, offering mature canopy cover and extensive shade.
Construction began on October 9, 2024, and was completed on February 3, 2025. A once-degraded space has been transformed into an accessible, safe, and welcoming public environment. This intervention not only reactivated an important public space in São Paulo’s North Zone but also aligns with the sustainability and urban integration goals of the new district, promoting a more connected, inclusive, and greener urban landscape.
