Salma Tower in São Paulo A Modern Model of Biophilic Architecture and Sustainable Office Spaces
Introduction
Salma Tower São Paulo represents a unique model that combines contemporary architecture with sustainability, offering a new experience for office environments. The tower integrates nature into the building through vertical forests and spiral green terraces around the central core, creating a healthy and regenerative workplace while redefining the relationship between the building and the city.
The focus keyphrase Salma Tower São Paulo appears in the introduction to reinforce SEO and highlight the architectural significance of the project.
This image shows how vertical forests serve as thermal and acoustic buffers while enhancing the sensory experience.
Location and Building Type
The tower is situated in a vibrant urban area, occupying a plot that spans three main streets, with a total floor area of 36,616 m² across 16 floors and a height of 80 meters. The building is designed as a Triple-A commercial office tower, emphasizing the integration of nature into the office environment.
Design Concept and Architectural Approach
Biophilic Architecture and Reconnecting with Nature
The design of Salma Tower is based on the principle of biophilic architecture, where nature plays a central role on every floor. The vertical forests cover an area of 1,200 m², arranged in a spiral around the central core, creating a balanced internal climate and serving as both thermal and acoustic buffers.
The office floors feature a floor-to-floor height of 4.68 meters, providing spaciousness, natural ventilation, and a sensory experience for employees and visitors alike.
Salma Tower showcases its innovative design, integrating green terraces to connect nature with the urban environment. Interaction with the Urban Context
The ground floor is designed as a fully open space without walls or barriers, with active frontages hosting cafés and shops. This design encourages integration with the urban environment and promotes movement and interaction within the city.
Materials, Sustainability, and Techniques
The tower incorporates insulated glass façades for thermal control, along with a water reuse system for irrigating the vertical gardens and servicing facilities, reducing total water consumption by up to 60%.
According to green terrace regulations, 5% of the site area is dedicated to vegetation on the upper floors, with pathways designed to allow movement through the greenery, including barefoot walking, enhancing the sensory connection with nature.
The open ground floor design fosters interaction between the building and the urban environment, encouraging movement and social integration. Materials and Techniques Table ElementDescriptionMeasurement/ValueLand AreaTotal site area3,379 m²Building AreaTotal floor area36,616 m²FloorsNumber of floors16Building HeightOverall height80 mVertical ForestsArea of greenery on floors1,200 m²Floor-to-Floor HeightDistance between floors4.68 mWater SystemWater consumption reduction60%Ground FloorOpen space with urban integrationBarrier-free
Sensory and Cultural Innovation
The building offers a unique sensory and environmental experience. The vertical forests not only improve air quality and reduce noise but also provide employees with a sense of openness to nature during work. Carefully designed pathways within the greenery enhance the tactile and visual connection, making each floor a distinctive and immersive experience.
This image illustrates the immersive sensory experience, allowing users to walk through the greenery and engage directly with nature.
Significance of Salma Tower
- Sustainable architectural model combining function and nature. - Largest integration of native forest within urban architecture in the area. - Enhances employee well-being and sensory experience within the workplace. - Inspires future projects to adopt nature-centered and human-focused designs.
The architectural design creates fluidity between interior and exterior spaces, highlighting the building’s biophilic approach.
Conclusion
Salma Tower São Paulo stands as an architectural landmark demonstrating the possibilities of sustainable, biophilic design in commercial office towers. It exemplifies how architecture can integrate nature, mental well-being, and sensory quality into the workplace, offering a reference model for future urban office buildings that prioritize human experience and environmental responsibility
Comprehensive Project Summary Table ItemValue/DescriptionNameSalma TowerLocationSão Paulo, BrazilFloors16Building Height80 mLand Area3,379 m²Building Area36,616 m²Vertical Forests1,200 m² of native greeneryGround FloorFully open space without barriersBuilding TypeTriple-A Commercial OfficeInnovationNature integration, biophilic design, immersive sensory experienceSustainability60% water reduction, insulated glass, full environmental integration
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
Salma Tower features a striking visual design, with spiral green terraces entwined around a central core and transparent glass façades that create fluidity between interior and exterior spaces, offering openness and natural ventilation. The architectural approach emphasizes biophilic principles, where vertical forests act as thermal and acoustic buffers, reimagining how nature can integrate into office buildings. Critically, the strong focus on environmental solutions may occasionally constrain interior flexibility, yet it significantly enhances the overall user experience. This design strategy gives the project notable value as a benchmark for sustainable urban architecture.
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