SESC POMPEIA

Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2012

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The architectural project of the SESC (Serviço Social do Comércio) was designed by the architect Lina Bo Bardi in 1977 and the works were completed in 1986. The project is located in an area of Sao Paulo that during the 60s was still an industrial suburb but then was inglobate within the city. The project occupies the plot of an iron industry that was reconverted and enlarged into the SESC. The SESC is conceived as a public space for the free time dedicated to culture, entertainments and sports. The new functional program comprehends a theater, a library, exposition spaces, playgrounds, study areas, workshops, a gym, a swimming pool, cafés and restaurant.

 

The existing factory is sided by three newly built up buildings in concrete with different dimensions that highlight the project in the skyline. These are three towers one with cylindrical and two with prismatic shapes. The cylindrical one is a water tank that serves the whole complex while the other two volumes host the gym, the swimming pool and dancing floors. These volumes are connected by footbridges at their intermediate floors. 

 

Lina Bo Bardi made an entire design work, designing everything from the urban scale, to the newly built up volumes to forniture.

 

Pictures were taken in 2012.