The Barra Funda district, a traditional neighborhood in São Paulo’s western zone, has received a major urban intervention, marking yet another chapter in its ongoing transformation. Designed by the firm Biselli Katchborian Arquitetos Associados, the new residential project occupies the site of the former Municipal Asphalt Plant, which operated from 1951 until its decommissioning in 2019. The site was later incorporated into São Paulo’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program for the revitalization of the city center region.

Resulting from a comprehensive environmental revitalization and decontamination process, the development delivers 417 social housing units across four residential towers, along with a commercial tower featuring ground-floor retail and office spaces above. The project reestablishes key connections to the city by reclaiming vital urban elements such as streets, corners, and communal areas.

Located at the intersection of Dr. Abraão Ribeiro avenue and Norma Pieruccini Giannotti street, the project takes advantage of those two important and symbolic urban nodes of the region to strategically position the commercial tower to anchor and activate the site within the neighborhood. A continuous canopy at ground level creates a welcoming, public-facing environment that enhances the area’s urban vitality and encourages interaction between public and private spaces.
The four residential towers are arranged with setbacks that support cross ventilation, natural lighting, and accessible shared spaces. The interior of the block is activated as a communal area, fostering a sense of belonging among resident.

With functional and efficient architectural design, the residential units are distributed along the edges of the towers, while open central atriums allow light and air to flow through the horizontal circulation paths. This solution not only enhances the building’s environmental performance by reducing reliance on artificial lighting, but also improves spatial fluidity and interaction among users.