This is a project initiated by the São Paulo City Hall, Metro Arquitetos, Alexandra Forbes, and Janaina Rueda (Casa do Porco).
Activities related to leisure, which depend on crowds, were the most affected by the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus. Therefore, it was necessary to think about the situation of bars and restaurants in downtown São Paulo in this context. In recent years, establishments in the city center have represented an improvement in the urban living conditions of the area, especially at night. To prevent them from closing, we were invited by Alexandra Forbes to think about how to make the return of bar and restaurant activities safe. Taking into account the safety measure of reducing capacity by 50%, in an initial study, we proposed occupying part of the street to extend restaurant tables, aiming to keep the number of tables close to 100% of the capacity.
We arrived at the final proposal after a meeting with Mayor Bruno Covas and the Urban Development Department of the City of São Paulo. We suggested several ways to occupy sidewalks and car lanes (by occupying parking spaces, narrowing the street) for commercial establishments, especially restaurants and bars, freeing up part of the sidewalks and streets for public use, with social distancing measures in accordance with WHO guidelines during and post-pandemic. Initially, the streets for intervention are General Jardim, Major Sertório, José Paulo Mantovan Freire, and Bento Freitas, benefiting a total of 30 establishments. In addition to increasing the capacity of the establishments, the urban space becomes more lively, dynamic, and safe, encouraging and motivating customers to return to these places safely.
Technical Specification:
Project Start: 2020
Address: São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Area: 2,000 m²
Architecture Design: Gustavo Cedroni, Martin Corullon, Stella Bloise, Fabiane Sakai, and Thiago Nicoletti
Concept: Janaina Torres and Alexandra Fortes
Production: Aline Prado, Thais Niles, and Camila Push
Landscape Design: Marcelo Faisal Visual
Communication: João Nitsche
Photos: Paulo Torya and Romulo Fialdini