Craving a breath of fresh air, away from Rio’s bustling heart? Then you’ve come to the right place at Parque Natural Municipal Jardim Jurema. This park is located an hour north of Rio de Janeiro, in the municipality of São João de Meriti.
Parque Natural Municipal Jardim Jurema offers a green escape. São João de Meriti is densely populated. It has few green spaces, making this park particularly valuable. FUNBIO, the Brazilian Fund for Biodiversity, partnered with the City Hall to develop this project. Their aim was to create a visitor center in the municipality’s only Atlantic Forest reserve.
The project included a visitor center and an administration center. Two viewing platforms were added to the existing trail. An arrival square now connects the park to the outside area. Here you can find a small soccer field and leisure area. The new visitor and administration center are housed in one compact building.
Inside, you’ll discover a small auditorium, administrative offices, a reception area, and employee accommodations. The design cleverly preserves the existing vegetation, with minimal changes to the landscape. The center comprises four small buildings. A lightweight roof unifies them.
The natural ground connects the buildings. It is understood as a continuous, rustic landscape. The building’s geometry follows the landscape and existing vegetation. Above, orthogonal lines frame the scenery. The four rectangular buildings feature structural stone walls. These walls form an “L” shape to support the roof.
The design incorporates only two types of doors and two types of windows. This was done to keep the project within budget. This park is the only municipal park in São João de Meriti. It plays a vital role. It provides a sanctuary for the Atlantic Forest. Tree seedlings were planted in a reforestation project. Parque Natural Municipal Jardim Jurema is more than just a park. It’s a testament to preserving nature in an urban environment.