MN15 is a high-end residential building in São Paulo, Brazil. The proximity to the most important park in São Paulo - Ibirapuera Park - is the key aspect for the concept development. This border condition defined two main goals to be achieved by the design: to take advantage from the superb visuals; and to extend the green surface, bringing the surrounding green to the footsteps and façades of the apartments, creating a unique living environment.
The project contains 14 housing units varying between 339 and 341 sqm, and one 573 sqm penthouse unit.
The site occupation prioritizes the apartment’s orientation, taking advantage of the building linearity to both strongly engage with the surroundings and shelter all the communal uses present at the ground floor with a greater degree of privacy. A variety of activities and spaces devoted to collective uses, such as event room, 25 metres inside pool, external pool, solarium, fitness area with squash court, spa and relaxing room, are distributed in three volumes occupying the extremities of the site in such a way that a central plaza, designed by prestigious Burle Marx studio, becomes the heart of condominium life.
The floor plan distribution guarantees the best views and privileged location to the collective environments of domestic life, while still preserving the intimacy of inhabitants by clearly separating the bedrooms. The master suite gets extra lighting due to its double orientation, as well as the possibility of enjoying the exterior in its great balcony. All rooms receive natural ventilation and lighting.
Alternative systems for energy generation, such as solar panels, are incorporated in the design in order to diminish energy consumption. Green roofs contribute to the creation of a more pleasant micro climate, avoiding the heat islands typically seen in great urban centres. Original vegetation was preserved, maintaining the existing green connection to the park.
In general, in tropical and subtropical regions the daytime temperature is uncomfortably high, particularly during the warmer seasons. Avoiding North orientation on main rooms is preferred.
Dual aspect dwellings have many benefits including better daylight, a greater chance of appropriated sunlight for longer periods, natural cross ventilation, mitigating pollution, offering a choice of views, access to a quiet side of a building, greater flexibility in the use of rooms, and more potential for future adaptability by altering the use of rooms.
The bedrooms, which have been south-east oriented, are exposed to the sun just in the cooler hours of the first half of the morning, while the living room will receive light late-afternoon sun, since it is protected by the terrace depth.
All the habitable spaces, including the bathrooms will have natural ventilations through the means of windows directly on the apartments’ façades.
