TKA Esplanade | Núcleo de Arquitetura Experimental

TKA Esplanade is a project aimed at structuring the external areas for the industrial plant of a crane manufacturer in the Serra Gaúcha region. The scope encompasses the designs for accessing the terrain and common spaces, including developing a plaza adjacent to the administrative building, access ramps, parking lots, technical areas, landscaping, visual identity, and signage. It’s a project where basalt rock, concrete, and metal blend in composition with vegetation and the local landscape. Each element has been carefully considered to highlight the natural beauty of the materials and the native context of the project.

The overall implementation concept was guided by the intention to optimize the space of the uneven terrain, making the most of the natural potential of the location. This involves creating a mix of living and transitional spaces, and crafting an inspiring, comfortable, and welcoming environment for those arriving at the manufacturing complex. The project unfolds between the industrial pavilion at the top of the plot and the RS-122 road at the lower part of the terrain. Different levels were created between these two extreme points, interspersed with rocky slopes, accentuating the spaces and showcasing the natural landscape.

The main plaza was situated next to the company’s administration building on the highest and most prestigious area of the terrain. This was done with the intention of configuring the space as an esplanade and enhancing the glass structure. Sawn basalt pavement distinguishes the living areas from the car circulation route, and the water mirror frames the panoramic view of the region. Rammed earth walls made from local basalt stone follow the terrain, creating an expressive design that frames the landscape, highlighting the interaction of natural elements amidst raw materials. Various levels are configured within the uneven terrain, intertwined with resting and walking areas, shaping the design of the large stone base on which the massive industrial building rests.

At the heart of the project, the water mirror is nestled between two staircases descending from the lower level, creating a boundary between the two plazas, eliminating the need for a guardrail and expanding the view of the surrounding landscape. In the central plaza, a selection of “Semente” tables compose the space, functioning as sculptural objects rich in details, materiality, and native tones of the region. Adjacent to the main esplanade, between the access road and the large slope, there is a more secluded plaza under the shade of a large cherry tree. The space is enclosed by a continuous low wall, serving as a long bench between the planters, complemented by the “Semente” tables, a furniture line also developed by naE. The benches provided by Metalco blend with the vegetation’s color and offer greater comfort and coziness with wooden seats and a structure that matches the black color of the signage panels.

The project’s pavement and signage adhere to key elements: sawn and bush-hammered basalt floors are used in the more prestigious areas, while the more robust concrete blocks are used in passageways. The signage elements and drainage grates share the same palette of materials, tones, and shapes, in order to maintain a concise design. The modularity of the elements has been considered since the project’s conception, optimizing material use and resulting in a better final finish of the components.

Signage and brand identity were also created by naE. Comprising directional totems in solid basalt and metal, identification plates for spaces in sheet metal, and the application of the logo in metal letters, these elements are placed on stone walls and slopes, maintaining a consistent visual language across all pieces – robust yet delicate. At night, the information is illuminated by points on the ground or, in the case of the logo, by embedded lighting.

Project Info
Architects: Núcleo de Arquitetura Experimental
Country: Brazil, Flores da Cunha
Area: 4200 m²
Year: 2023
Photographs: Marcelo Donadussi
Architects: Alexandre Rögelin Prass, Filipe Saur Santos, Thomas Weirich, Diego Lopes
Interns: Renata Rizzon, Rafaela Bellotto, Nicole Carrion
Lighting Project: Arq. Eduardo Becker
Structural Project: Eng. Nicolas Dal Bó
Hydrosanitary Project: Eng. Gabriel Britto
Electrical/Telecom Project: Eng. Gabriel Britto
Earthmoving Project: Eng. Nicolas Dal Bó
Drainage Project: Eng. Gabriel Britto
Execution And Management: Eng. Nicolas Dal Bó
Program: Urban Project: Access roads, landscaping and visual identity for the front area of the TKA Cranes factory.