Location: Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Architect: Bernardes Arquitetura.

Paraty, a historic town in Brazil, has become famous for its blend of colonial architecture, lush forest, and calm bay. However, the town’s growth has put pressure on the environment and local populations. The completion of the Paraty-Cunha road has reduced travel time between São Paulo and Paraty, making the town more accessible. The project site is a former palm tree farm and is in a key location along the Paraty-Cunha road. The project has established three macro-planning areas to achieve greater connectivity among the areas and link them to remaining forest fragments. The open spaces system is organized into conservation areas for wildlife, ecological parks, and greenways. The green infrastructure strategies include low-impact drainage systems with the use of bio-swales, rain gardens, and permeable surfaces. These features have been fully integrated into the design of sidewalks, roads, bike paths, and parks to distribute low-impact infrastructures throughout the site.

Photo credit: Bernardes Arquitetura..