Gare Park

PASSO FUNDO – RIO GRANDE DO SUL

Historic heritage and market integrated in a park

Because of the deactivation of the railway line in Passo Fundo, in Rio Grande do Sul, Gare Park took over the location of the old train station in 1986. Over the years, that location has undergone an abandonment process and consequent degradation. This work was developed through the Passo Fundo´s Integrated Development Program (PRODIN) with the objective of revitalizing the urban and landscape part of the park, introducing diverse infrastructures and leisure equipment.

The architectural project included the development of a new building for the Producer’s Fair, a new cafeteria, a new bathroom area, a multipurpose area and equipment such as skate parks, a multi-sport court, a BMX (bicycle motocross) track, play area in an accessible park, library and amphitheater. The large, green and massive area of existing trees has been preserved, the waters of Lake Gare have been treated and their design has been revitalized and integrated into the park’s design.

Basic and executive landscaping, architecture, urbanization and complementary projects for the park were carried out.

One of the partners in Natureza Urbana was the general coordinator of this project by IDOM, inviting team members, then also hired to participate by IDOM.

Located in the central area of ​​Passo Fundo, the park composse a relevant public space for the municipality.

Besides the new infrastructures distributed over the more than 69 thousand m2 the park has, the Project also incorporated and re-qualified all the preserved infrastructures, maintaining their original features. The urban space, designed for the enjoynment  of conviviality and contemplation elements, receives improvements in the routes and in the internal organization of the park. The intervention on the floor is divided into two distinct treatments: the internal part of the park receives concrete floors and the external part, which relates to the city, receives a typical stone from the region, used in the city’s sidewalks.

The variable topography created an initial challenge that soon opened up as a project opportunity – the buildings are connected to the different levels of the land, enabling the organization of the internal program and its relationship with the external environment. Bridges and walkways help to overcome the different challenges on the place, equipped with structures that suit the terrain and become spaces for contemplation, such as decks and steps, or as leisure spaces, such as slides.

The structure of the Producer´s fair building is composed of a concrete and metallic structural system, creating a large central space that is open and free of pillars. Its interior is spatially organized by ramps that connect three interior spaces to different levels. The first contains the support area, with toilets, warehouses and facilities. At the intermediate level, there is the food court that connects to one of the park’s accesses. Finally, at a lower level, there are the fixed cold areas, connecting to the other access and parking.