Herzog & de Meuron started working on a regeneration project for the Main Louise area in Natal back in 2009. This area was initially built up densely and chaotically, so the quality of the urban environment there leaves much to be desired. Swiss architects have proposed to build a "necklace" of new structures on the few vacant lots, which will eventually create a new community center. This initiative will continue the activities of the local organization Centro Sócio Pastoral Nossa Senhora de Conceição, which is a partner of the Swiss office.
One of such buildings will be the new sports complex of the Dinarte Martis School: it will appear on the site of the ruins of an old sports facility and will include the remains of its post-and-beam structure. The new building will occupy the entire area of the site, using the old regular structure for a new, asymmetrical plan. It will be a one-story building, its main level will be formed by a concrete surface repeating the contours of the relief and following the function of the sports complex: the “plain” of the sports field will be replaced by the “elevation” of stands for 350 people, etc.
The roof will be made of aluminum sandwich panels, fixed with gaps between them: so fresh air and light can penetrate inside; it will also continue the old local tradition of indoor public spaces. The boundaries of the structure will be delineated by a wall of concrete blocks with numerous openings; meandering around the perimeter of the sports complex, it will create numerous utility rooms: rounded and rectangular enclosed spaces. Construction is due to start in 2012, the land area is approx. 5000 m2, building development - 2 thousand m2.
In the harbor of Vitoria, construction is under way for the Cais das Artes cultural center, designed by Paulo Mendes da Rocha, a Pritzker Prize winner. Since he does not have his own workshop, he teams up with one or another bureau to create a specific project: this time he works with Metro Arquitetos.
The new complex with "rough" concrete facades consists of a museum and a theater building. They are raised on supports of different shapes so as not to violate the integrity of the public space created around them: this area for holding various events and recreation of the townspeople faces both the bay and the city space. Temporary cafes, bookstores, etc. can be set up in the square.
The buildings with almost blank facades facing the ocean and the city are inspired by the energetic "collision" of nature and man in the spectacular landscape of Vitoria, the daily life of the port, the constant bustle of the docks.
The museum is an elongated block 150 m long: all its halls with a total area of 3,000 m2 are 20 m wide; the sun's rays fall into the building at an angle, so the rooms are illuminated by soft light reflected from the floor surface. All other spaces necessary for the museum are located in an attached tower with an area of 22 x 22 m and a height of 23 m: it is connected to the main building by bridges.
The theater building is 69 m long, and its front pillars are submerged in water. All internal circulation is carried out through two side galleries; the universal auditorium is designed for 1300 seats. On the lower level of the theater building there is a restaurant overlooking a new square.
