São Paulo is a city permeated by many rivers and streams, but the vast majority of them have been channeled, leaving only two main ones, which, despite being straightened, are still present in the landscape of those passing through the city’s marginal roads: the Tietê River and the Pinheiros River. As part of an effort to recreate a connection between the population and the rivers, a linear park approximately 8 km long is being created along the banks of the Pinheiros River. A group of artists was invited to create interventions that would engage with this context, and that’s how artist Igi Lola Ayedum invited Metro to collaborate on a joint installation project: a floating island on the Pinheiros River. A linear pier, about 100 meters long, with a design that provides different usage scenarios for the public. Elevated and lowered stages, as well as various seating arrangements, make the location ideal for hosting musical concerts, film screenings, dance performances, as well as parties, sports events, or fashion-related events.
Three coverings overlap and protect part of the path from the rain, each with a different shape: a cube, a pyramid, and a sphere. Based on the principle that the waters of the Pinheiros River are currently stagnant, these shapes emerge from the reflection of the coverings on the “dead” river. The coverings float independently of the pier, allowing them to move and create different spatial configurations, as well as a dynamic sculptural form in the landscape. This island will serve as a public facility for the local population and also for those who visit the park along the banks, further connecting people with the Pinheiros River through artistic expressions.
Technical Specifications:
Project Type: Cultural Facility
Project Start: July 2024
Project Completion: Ongoing
Address: Located on the west bank of the Pinheiros River in the Chácara Santo Antônio neighborhood in São Paulo – SP, Brazil (23°37’45″S 46°42’53″W). The building is accessed through the Bruno Covas Linear Park and is located near the Global Conviviality Center, Bruno Covas Park.
Area: 880 m²
Architecture and Artistic Creation: Igi Lola Ayedum, Gustavo Cedroni, Martin Corullon, Rafael Chvaicer, Arthur Rocha
Client: Águas Abertas / City of São Paulo