COP30's Floating Hub: Carlo Ratti and Höweler + Yoon Unveil Amphibious Aquapraça in Belém

2 hours ago7 min read

Originally prototyped at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, the Aquapraça has now been fully realized in Brazil, signaling a pivotal shift in climate-resilient design. The collaborative project between architect Carlo Ratti and the firm Höweler + Yoon arrives in Belém as a dynamic, floating public square for COP30, the UN climate conference.This installation serves as a direct architectural response to the escalating threats of rising water levels and extreme weather, particularly in vulnerable regions like the Amazon. Its journey from a Venetian concept to a functional Amazonian hub underscores a new architectural imperative: creating adaptive, amphibious infrastructures that can thrive on water.More than a venue for conference dialogue, the Aquapraça is a prototype for a future where public spaces seamlessly integrate with aquatic environments. It is expected to incorporate advanced green technologies—including water purification, renewable energy, and native planting—to form a self-sustaining ecosystem that benefits both the community and local ecology.Situated in Belém, a critical gateway to the Amazon, the project powerfully symbolizes the interconnected crises of deforestation, river health, and global climate. During COP30, it will act as a living laboratory, demonstrating practical solutions for urban flooding, heat mitigation, and social equity by transforming flooded areas into vibrant public realms.This strategic location forces a necessary global conversation on climate adaptation and justice, moving beyond mere emission talks. In stark contrast to traditional, resource-heavy construction, the Aquapraça embodies a regenerative approach to the built environment.Its evolution marks a quiet revolution in urban planning, positioning architects as essential ecosystem engineers. The structure’s voyage from Venice's canals to the Amazon's waters offers a hopeful vision: cities that no longer battle nature, but are designed to float in harmony with it.

#floating architecture

#Carlo Ratti

#Höweler + Yoon

#aquapraça

#COP30

#climate conference

#Venice Biennale

#designboom

#editorial picks news

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