Torre Mata Atlântica: Innovative Landscape Design in São Paulo

Architects: Benedito Abbud Arquitetura Paisagística

The Torre Mata Atlântica stands as a landmark within the Cidade Matarazzo complex, a prestigious mixed-use development in São Paulo that integrates residential apartments, hotel suites, commercial spaces, cultural venues, and public amenities. Spanning a portion of the historic Matarazzo Hospital site, the complex covers approximately 30,000 m², with the tower itself occupying 3,000 m² of this iconic plot.

Designed by Ateliers Jean Nouvel, the building houses Rosewood-managed hotel suites and luxury residences, emphasizing the seamless integration of urban living and nature. The landscape architecture, by Benedito Abbud Arquitetura Paisagística, was conceived with a singular vision: to make greenery as vital as the architecture itself.

Integrating Nature and Architecture

The landscape design of Torre Mata Atlântica transforms the urban site into a green oasis amidst São Paulo’s dense cityscape. The concept draws inspiration from the lush slopes of the Serra do Mar, featuring stepped terraces densely planted with native trees. These terraces act as living green belts, softening the building’s verticality and creating a visual and environmental connection to the surrounding landscape.

Vegetation permeates every corner of the complex, occupying open spaces between old and new structures, balancing the historic heritage of the Matarazzo Hospital with modern architectural interventions. This design strategy ensures the complex harmonizes with its surroundings, blending natural beauty with urban sophistication.

Terraces, Gardens, and Privacy

The building’s front garden is designed as a dense urban forest, offering privacy to residents while masking the building’s massive volume from street-level passersby. The tower’s terraces, located on the 10th, 16th, 21st, and 27th floors, are crowned with large planters and mature trees, creating vibrant green layers that evolve with the seasons.

Medium-sized planters and oversized vases adorn apartment balconies, creating a dynamic façade that changes with light, wind, and growth, giving the tower an organic and unpredictable character. The rooftop garden on the 27th floor transforms the top of the building into a green sanctuary with panoramic city views, demonstrating how urban architecture can coexist with lush, vertical landscapes.

Safety, Sustainability, and Innovation

Planting mature trees on skyscrapers presents challenges, including wind resistance, root containment, and the risk of falling branches. At Torre Mata Atlântica, these challenges were addressed through rigorous risk studies and computational modeling. Native tree species were selected based on their resilience to extreme winds, with simulations evaluating branch structure, crown shape, and foliage density to ensure long-term stability.

Innovative anchoring solutions were developed for both the underground root systems and the aerial parts of the trees, providing an extra layer of safety without compromising the aesthetic appeal. This integration of safety, functionality, and natural beauty highlights the cutting-edge approach of contemporary landscape architecture in urban high-rise design.

Environmental and Urban Impact

Torre Mata Atlântica demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to sustainable urban development. By prioritizing greenery, the project enhances biodiversity, air quality, and thermal comfort, while creating a visually striking landmark that harmonizes nature and architecture. The project illustrates the growing trend of vertical forests in urban design, combining aesthetics, functionality, and environmental consciousness in one cohesive vision.

All photographs are works of Eduardo Castello, Eduardo Ikoma, Maíra Acayaba