Grand Copacabana: A Masterpiece of Mixed-Use Architecture

Alberto Torres' Award-Winning Design Merges City and User in Harmony

The Grand Copacabana project was inspired by the site's former occupant, an old hotel. Torres sought to create an architecture that would be kind to the city, blurring the lines between private and public areas. The ground floor is designed as an extension of Avenida Benjamim Constant, one of the busiest streets in the city. The stores open completely onto the street and are set back from the sidewalk, creating a large mall-like atmosphere.

What sets the Grand Copacabana apart is its focus on the integration between the city and the user. The commercial part of the building does not clearly distinguish between private and public areas, making the building an extension of the sidewalk. The residential units, on the other hand, feature large balconies that act as frames for the outside, offering a privileged view of the city.

The building was constructed using techniques, technologies, and materials common to the coastal region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The structural system of reinforced concrete was used, along with sealing masonry walls and external tiles. The external frames are made of white tiles, while the body of the building is covered with black tiles, creating a striking contrast and enhancing the sense of depth of the balconies.

The project consists of a building for residential and commercial use with a total of 11,556.99m², spread over nineteen floors. The ground floor faces one of the main commercial avenues in the city of Torres, and has a large setback in relation to the alignment of the site, creating a large mall avenue for stores. From the 5th floor onwards, the development's apartments are located. The nineteenth floor houses the leisure areas of the development, including a fitness center, gourmet space, party salon, games room, coworking space, and a swimming pool with panoramic views of the city and the sea.

The Grand Copacabana project faced the challenge of combining the needs of the constructor with what the city needed. The solution was to explore as much as possible what the site had to offer. The ground floor is an extension of the sidewalk, creating ample spaces for shops and pedestrians, making the development pleasant for its users. The deep understanding of the master plan of the city of Torres was also fundamental to developing a building that worked and also respected the city.

Alberto Torres' Grand Copacabana is a testament to the power of architecture to enhance the relationship between a city and its inhabitants. Its innovative design and thoughtful integration of public and private spaces have not only won it the Silver A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2023, but also made it a shining example of modern, user-focused architecture.