Sales offices are usually structures with a high environmental impact—temporarily built facilities that are discarded once they’ve served their purpose. This notion has always bothered us, and in the project for the JARDIM residential building in Curitiba (PR), we found an opportunity to change that logic.

The sales office was conceived as a permanent structure, designed to later accommodate a commercial activity, adding value for both the building’s residents and the surrounding neighborhood after construction was completed.

The main challenge was to create an interesting aesthetic for this structure, independent of the main building. We chose a stone volume, and the material ended up defining the entire facade of the building, symbolizing a sense of permanence. Although the two projects relate in terms of volume, materiality, and aesthetics, they are not directly connected and were built separately.

The commercial space is a simple rectangular volume, consisting of an open hall at the entrance, along with restrooms and a small pantry area. It’s a simple and efficient layout that can accommodate a variety of commercial uses. At the back, we implemented a patio that brings in natural light, creating the impression of a continuous courtyard when looking in from the outside—one that opens to the street. Knowing that this area would be visible from above by the residents, we created a green roof, which also makes this active facade even more inviting for passersby.

In the end, the space was occupied by a café, serving both the building’s residents and the surrounding community. A movement that brings life, safety, and a sense of community—perhaps still uncommon in the real estate market, but one we would certainly like to see more often.