Edifício Oxi | Luiz Volpato Arquitetura

Oxi is an office building located at the top of Jerônimo Durski Street in Curitiba, situated on a plot that also connects to Saldanha Marinho Street.

The primary objective was to create a design that inspires project action above all, as the building would house the headquarters of three design companies: an architecture studio and two structural calculation firms—one specializing in concrete structures and the other in metal structures. The architectural concept was crafted based on the predominant use of steel, concrete, and glass, coherently merging to form a unique identity that harmoniously reflects evolution, tradition, and transparency—characteristics inherent in the DNA of the corporations that would be housed there.

Due to the elongated shape of the site, the decision was made to create two adjacent blocks along the boundaries, freeing up the central space for a visitor access plaza. This plaza extends from the main entrance on the primary street to a vertical circulation column that provides access to the studios, garages, and the exit to the secondary street. This column comprises lobbies, stairs, and a fully glazed panoramic elevator that connects the two blocks, allowing visual communication between the two streets while maintaining the shared benefit of the abundant vegetation from the rear street.

The opaque glass facades of the first basement level, the front cantilever, and the lateral walkways give the building a sense of lightness, as if the glass blocks are floating. The structure is exposed, consisting of a metal framework, glass partitions, brushed steel sheets, and polished concrete slabs that serve solely as structural elements for enclosure and finishing.

Thermal comfort was achieved by creating an external circulation path with floor grates along the sides of the floors, allowing doors to open and enabling heat exchange through vertical ventilation. These walkways also support the natural landscaping that is currently being developed. On the main facade, a simple solar control system was installed using a commonly used construction element: steel rebar layered and intertwined over time with climbing vegetation, which can be managed to achieve the desired amount of sunlight. This innovative interpretation of traditional solar protection systems becomes another key feature of the project. The central access void will also gradually be covered with a layer of vegetation supported by steel cables that traverse the blocks at roof height.

The central separation between the two blocks ensures natural lighting for all areas across all floors, marks the main entrance, and expands perspectives for both those inside the building and observers outside. This configuration dynamicizes the spaces, ensuring continuous visual interactions with the adjacent streets and providing aesthetically pleasing and highly comfortable environments.

Although the initial premises did not include a desire to obtain environmental certification, there was a significant intent to translate all the sustainability knowledge acquired over the years by the project author and their collaborators. Each aspect of the project was carefully studied to achieve a design as environmentally responsible as possible, honestly leveraging natural elements, avoiding the use of contaminants and waste generation, and focusing entirely on reducing recurring maintenance by predominantly using materials that gain character and life as they age.

The work was relentless to ensure that, with the physical consolidation of the project, the development of the conceptual vision could be clearly observed, achieving the objectives with absolute respect for the intervention in the space.