Diplomacy Capturing the Sense of Place

The new consulate general replaces its 1950s predecessor to meet current capacity and designrequirements. Inspired by Brazilian modernist traditions and urbanism, the newfacility captures the character of the vibrant city through form, materiality,and experience. A community space sits atop two glazed office towers set within the common stone clad plinth, where public services are provided with the iconic cityscape framing the scene.  Arrays of vertical shade fins known as a brise-soleil unify and shape each tower, creating a unique identity derived from effective solar control.

Monumental canopiesmark the primary entries of the chancery. Formal plazas at the main entry,flanked by water features and gardens, house a covered multi-use outdoorreception and event space. Consular visitors access diplomatic service byascending a brightly colored processional ramp, serving as an orchestratedvisitor experience and familiar modernist gesture.

Beyondrepresentational qualities, challenging aspects of the program and site areseamlessly resolved in support of the Bureau’s goals and priorities. On the compacturban site, efficient planning allows for both diplomatic functions andrepresentational frontage. The complex program interconnects inside an 11-storyhigh-rise. A full floorplate of unassigned shell space in the towers will allowfor future expansion. The Marine residence is also embedded in the tower. Thechancery includes an interstitial mechanical level that normalizes the towerfloorplates and co-locates major equipment to centralize maintenance. Thefaçade fins are backed by walkable platforms to facilitate maintenance inconcert with roof-mounted access equipment.

The facility willserve nearly 1,800 visitors daily, energizing the local economy and enhancingpublic safety. Site strategies capitalize on available infrastructure tobenefit the project and host city. The campus landscapetransitions across the secure perimeter into the public realm, upgrading thestreetscape with a shaded experience for pedestrians. An adjacent park is revitalized as informalconsular waiting. The public right of way is redeveloped as shaded walkwayslinking compound access points to the surroundings. Public transportation and parkingminimize on-site parking.

A connected systemof representational water features supplements an underground cistern tocollect and manage stormwater for reuse, minimizing impacts on overwhelmedmunicipal systems. Energy efficiency and lower operational costs are achievedwith passive radiant cooling, photovoltaics, daylighting, and shading. Thevertical fins, optimized for each exposure, reduce solar gain by 44% whileproviding usable daylight and access to the view.