CREATING THE “CARIOCA WAVE” PROJECT IN RIO
“When I got the opportunity to work in Rio de Janeiro the “the marvelous city”, I was thrilled, I knew that whatever I design it has to be and behave as a part of this wonderful place.
I started working on the master plan in my office in Rome, but it’s when I came to Rio that the actual shape was defined. The inspiration came while seating on one of the many famous beaches with a local cold drink. I remember drawing in my sketch book simple 5, 6 lines, but they captured it all:
The calm, the movement, the sound, the “Carioca” as persons from Rio area are called.
I created a shape of a single yet, geometrically, very complex surface of double curvature. The surface starts at the upper floor above a blue colored water pool, then rises up curving, growing forward, twisting to the other side, and finally dropping down to a lower floor, were it splashes into a white colored pool.
Around it you will find, water, sand, Portuguese paving and other elements to merges the project with the local language”. arch. Nir Sivan 2014
Inspired by its context, the project was driven artistically and emotionally, and developed architecturally, adding both value and function to its surroundings.
Sculpt Architecture
The design approach included sculpture and design methods that were further developed using automotive industry tools and advanced parametric instruments to ensure tight control of the very particular geometry.
We developed this unique process, involving automotive industry, as we believe it gives us complete freedom to create while being coherent within all aspects, concept, structure and form wise.
Putting things together
Our projects often requires high technologies as well as advanced fabrication and installation techniques. In Carioca Wave gridshell we have more than 110 ton of carbon steel (fabricate in Czech republic), including 36mm thick double curved tubes, 765 different beams and almost 300 different laser cut shaped nodes, creating 503 diverse triangles accommodate by glass panels that weight 45 ton (fabricated in Japan), all shipped to be installed in Brazil.
As we often do in similar cases, we created a Design- Builder group. Means we bond our Engineers Knipper Helbig (Germany) as right hand partners and a construction company seele (Austria HQ) for the fabrication and installation. In this way we were involved in all aspects and processes of the development, assuring that our design intentions were kept all along and that the final results correspond our expectations. The client, was free from any trouble of coordinating this international team and had one address for communication.
Architecture precedent
The structural frame of the Carioca Wave canopy is self-supporting gridshell, without any columns or lateral supports. The challenge here was to combine this self-supporting ability with wide cantilevers to push technology to the limits. In fact, while creating it, I was informed that I am doing the first freeform architecture in South America history. Actually I do not know of any similar structures in Israel as well.
I believe persons appreciated Design and recognize the “added value” of it while implementing new techniques and technologies.
I look forward to sculpt more architecture worldwide.
Data of project

project name: Carioca Wave / Onda Carioca, Rio de Janeiro
Opening: 2014
Area: Adjacent context: 1,500 square metres, Canopy: 1,130 square metres;
Role of Nir Sivan Architects: Architectural design, project management, coordination of Design–build
Design team: Nir Sivan, Kai Felix Dorl, Daniele Nardone, Andrzej Samsonowicz, Andrea Borgogni
Structural Engineering: Knippers Helbig (http://www.knippershelbig.com/);
Construction: seele do Brasil (http://www.seele.com/)
Photo: Nir Sivan, Marcio Irala, Wager Ziegelmeyer
Client: CasaShopping Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (http://www.casashopping.com/)