Invisible water, divided city: dialogues and proposals for the Água Preta and Sumaré Basins

Renata Priore Lima; Antonio Teixeira Jr.; Beatriz Pacheco; Thamires Souza

Proponents: Architect Prof. Dr. Renata Priore Lima (UNIP); Architect Ms. Antonio Castelo Branco Teixeira Jr. (Amora Perdizes); Architect Prof. Dr. Beatriz de Almeida Pacheco (UNIP); Architect Ms. Thamires Zelinda dos Santos Souza (FAU Mackenzie).

This workshop will be a space for reflection and collective action, focusing on the relationship between the city and its waters. The initial discussion will feature recordings of previous walks through the two neighboring basins (Água Preta and Sumaré), raising questions about how to combine local solutions with integrated watershed planning. The discussion will address sustainable drainage projects and green-blue infrastructure, exploring everything from microdrainage techniques such as permeable pavements, rain gardens, bioretention ponds, and bioswales; to territorial-scale macrodrainage strategies such as linear parks, floodplain parks, and ecological corridors, which promote water retention and infiltration into the urban fabric.

Starting with technical walks through the basins of the Sumaré and Água Preta streams, which are areas marked by covered springs, large reservoir projects over squares and the degradation of protected green areas, the activity seeks to identify conflicts and opportunities to implement Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and develop proposals, through models and sketches.
This workshop arises from the urgent need to rethink the role of architecture and urban design in the face of the water and climate crisis in São Paulo. The focus is on these two river basins (Sumaré and Água Preta), located in the West Zone of the city of São Paulo, which are home to channeled streams and unfinished gray infrastructure projects, in addition to witnessing the reduction of green areas due to the removal of vegetation cover to make way for new condominiums. Added to this are institutional projects of large swimming pools over tree-lined squares and new subway stations, which exacerbate flooding in the area and the formation of heat islands. Given this scenario, a practical laboratory for redesigning urban infrastructure is proposed. The initiative demonstrates how architecture can mediate the relationship between technology and territory, converting degraded spaces into multifunctional systems that integrate drainage, biodiversity, and public use.

Vacancies: 120

Free

Registration:

Registrations must be made by form available here.

Selection will be made in order of registration.

Registration will be open until October 5, 2025.

Participate in the program of debates, workshops and associated activities!

TODAY (28.09):

10am to 2pm – activity Bixiga River Territory reforests Canudos in Horta Denuzia

10am to 6:30pm – 4th Jewelry Festival in the Jewel Park

11am to 12pm – workshop First Half

1:00 pm to 2:30 pm – workshop CLIMATIVA: Climate Action Plan for Brazilian cities

1pm to 9pm – SP Meeting Forum

IN THE NEXT DAYS (29.09 to 04.10)

September 29th to October 3rd – workshop Embodied landscapes

September 30th and October 2nd – Biomaterials Mini-Workshops at the Living Lab

30.09 – Guided tour of Pantanal Action

10/1 – conference Means of production with Jane Hall

10/1 and 2/2 – session 4 and session 5 of the show Cinema, architecture and society at the cinematheque

01.10 – workshop Between blades and gaps: project models in Glulam

01.10 – workshop Grammars of Nature – architectures of the infinitesimal at the Living Lab

02.10 – movie The Strength of Form – bent lenticular beam in wood at IABsp

02.10 – Amerindian Farms in Oca. Amazonia from the Margins to the Extremes: Labya-Yala of FAU-USP

02.10 – tables Preserving biodiversity in the city + Trees and Thermal Justice

03.10 – tables Housing policies for the homeless population and the experience of the FICA Fund + Innovating the Regularization of Affordable Housing + Cultural facilities in adapted historic buildings

03.10 – Workshop on Designing Wooden Structures with Fiber at IABsp

03.10 – Visit to Morro Grande Park

04.10 – Discussion round with Instituto Cambará and guided tour

04.10 – Film: When Brazil was modern

04.10 – Landscape, Geography, and Refugee Birds. A Reading-Performance by Gian Gigi Spina

JOIN! IT'S ALL FREE!

And there's much more until October 19th!

(Activities and projects are still being added; the site will be complete soon)

NOTE OF CONDOLENCE

With deep sorrow, the Brazilian Institute of Architects – São Paulo Department (IABsp) mourns the passing of architect and landscape architect Kongjian Yu, a global leader in ecological urbanism, and the members of his team who accompanied him, tragically killed during the filming of a documentary. The institute is honored to have had him as a participant in the 14th São Paulo International Architecture Biennial, where his transformative vision strengthened the dialogue between global challenges and local realities. IABsp emphasizes that Yu's contribution, which transcends borders, will remain an inspiration for generations and expresses its condolences to China, to the families of all the deceased, to his friends, and to all those impacted by his genius and dedication. Read the full note here.