Paço Municipal Várzea Paulista

1nd Place – National Architecture Competition

The implementation strategy directly results from the natural flows exercised daily by those who intensively use this central area, with strong attractions that feed the public space, such as the Paço itself, the railway terminal, the urban bus terminal, and the shopping center, all defined and directed by the structure of the streets, the elevated highway, and surrounding avenues. The proposal highlights a strong north-south axis aligned with Avenida Eduardo de Castro Filho, freeing up pedestrian flow to Avenida Ipiranga near the bus terminal. This design favors future connections between the Paço and the Zona Norte Urban Project, linking both sides of the city’s fabric. The redesign of the urban ground aligns with the direction of these roads, accommodating the program elements most related to daily citizen support services, which are easily accessible without interfering with the specific areas of public administration. This arrangement shapes the plaza as a whole, minimizing the impact of secondary buildings, allowing the user and the generous space to take center stage.

From the plaza, defined by predominantly horizontal spaces and lines, the tower emerges as a landmark and symbol, responding to a significant convergence of collective demands. Its simplicity is balanced with the necessary firmness and austerity for the civic character of the space. The tower houses the Executive’s secretariats, the City Hall, and the Deputy City Hall. This vertical element contrasts with the horizontal lines of the other sectors composing the plaza, reflecting the administrative spaces’ centrality within the desired urban fabric. This large space, arranged over two levels, can gather a significant audience for shows, orchestras, and events, with a stage elevated four meters, defined by the upper slab that contours and defines the orthogonality of the plaza.

The main tower, located on the northern portion of the site, housing the executive and legislative secretariats, occupies little ground area, making room at its base for a large civic plaza. This plaza is defined on the east by a well-marked north-south axis, hosting easily accessible services such as banks, consumer protection agencies (Procon), legal counsel, health, and workplace safety, all on the ground level and facing the expansive open esplanade. Similarly, the south side of the plaza houses the theater and the cafeteria, connected by a large veranda that integrates with the service sectors, forming a spacious foyer for interaction.

Above the service sector, in a quieter area, a suspended block accommodates the library and telecenter, with direct access from the plateau connected to the viaduct on the eastern edge of the complex.