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Waterfront Carnival: Reconnecting People and River in São Paulo

Waterfront Carnival is a public landscape design project located at the intersection of the Tietê and Tamanduateí Rivers in northern São Paulo. The site, once a vibrant hub of riverside activity, has suffered over time due to urbanization and recurring floods. As a result, people have become disconnected from the water—both physically and emotionally.

This project seeks to restore that lost connection by using sports and recreation as tools to bring people back to the waterfront. Surrounded by dense residential neighborhoods with a high demand for public space, the site benefits from existing sports facilities such as baseball fields and sports clubs. These resources offer a strong foundation for a renewed and more inclusive landscape.

To address the major challenge of flooding, the design transforms underused land into a floodable wetland park, giving the river room to expand during storms while providing green space during the dry season. A new circulation system introduces clear and inclusive routes for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles, while a slow zone near the water encourages safe, leisurely access. Additional public programs—like a rowing club, floating swimming pool, skatepark, samba parade axis, playgrounds, and gathering spaces—respond to the needs of the community while referencing the site’s cultural and historical roots.

By weaving in historical memory, environmental resilience, and contemporary needs, Waterfront Carnival reimagines this riverside zone as a vibrant public landscape—one that reconnects people to the water and helps build lasting community ties and joyful memories.