Una Makers Innovation Center | IDEIA1

Una Makers Innovation Center’s concept:

Una Makers is the newest development in Pelotas, RS. The developers have experience building condominiums and sought to create a new project with a new approach to the city. After long research on new urbanism and urban vitality, the idea to build The Una Makers, a planned and open neighborhood about 10 minutes from the city center of Pelotas, in an area responsible for urban expansion, emerged.

The innovation center Una Makers, a short building, occupies the corner of the site and guarantees the human scale for the street, creating a porous ground floor on the main avenue of the neighborhood. The composition breaks the shape into small boxes delicately placed on concrete slabs. It has independent functions within the complex and was designed to be occupied by local startups and creative companies. A fab lab occupies the ground floor and is run by an innovation company.

The design of Una Makers is not just about the building but also about the community it serves. The large windows invite the community to use the front gardens for experimentation activities and events, fostering a sense of ownership and connection to the building’s uses.

Part of the ground and second floors are occupied by a workspace. Different local companies rent the other four office spaces. On the third floor, a shared terrace was created to minimize the building’s height on the street level and serve as a social point for the Innovation Center. Besides being a space for socializing and enjoying the view, this terrace can be configured to host an outdoor conversation, a projection event, or even a party.

The open stairs are the main characteristic of the facade and materialize the building’s objective: to open up to the community and to be visible and transparent. This innovation center plays a vital role in activating not only the facade of the block but also the entire new neighborhood. The finishes help to create an urban environment and a contemporary look for the facades. Metallic gray finishes contrast white walls on the upper floors, while natural finishes such as concrete and wood are used on the ground floor.

The tensioned cables generate a sculpture at the entrance, creating an exciting play of light and shadow in the building. As they are the facade’s main characteristic, we ensured that the flow of people in the open circulations creates a structure in motion.

Project Info:
Architects: Ideia1
Area: 2198 m2
Photographs: Roberta Gewehr
Manufacturers:  Sherwin-Williams, Alcont Alumínio, Alusistem, Cecrisa, Metalbovi, Perfilor
Engineering: Vantec
Landscape Design: Ideia1
Lead Architects Team: Cristina Martins, Gabriel Grandó, Marcos Laurino
Design Team: Camila Sanvitto, Christine Beck. Angélica Crusius, André Landini, Paula Fontana, Tamara Santos, Luis H. Villanova, Luis Rocha, Diego Lopes, Leonardo Neumann, Lucas Gomes, Rafael Marques
Urban Planning Team: Idealiza Urbanismo
Design Team Collaborators: Marcelo Porfiro, Mima Feltrin, Ricardo Curti, Juliana Moroishi, Amanda Lauxen
Client: Idealiza Verticais
Electrical & Plumbing: ArquiDR
Sign Design: NAV
City: Pelotas
Country: Brazil