Pavuna Park is located in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the hilltop of the Chapadão Complex, a neighborhood historically shaped by socio-environmental vulnerability and among the city's lowest human development indicators.

Conceived as a civic landscape and a catalyst for social transformation, the park provides a high quality public realm that integrates recreation, sports, education, and everyday community life. Its program includes soccer, volleyball, and basketball courts, a skate park, children's play areas, outdoor fitness equipment, and kiosks, creating an inclusive and multifunctional landscape for users of all ages.

The design responds directly to the site's pronounced topography, organizing the program across a sequence of terraces that follow the natural landform. Changes in elevation are resolved through an integrated system of stairs, accessible ramps, and stepped seating, transforming circulation into opportunities for gathering and observation. Rather than imposing a new geometry, the intervention works with the existing terrain, reinforcing the site's spatial character.

Landscape infrastructure plays a central role in the project. Native Atlantic Forest trees and understory species are combined with the preservation of existing vegetation, forming a resilient planting strategy that enhances biodiversity while improving environmental performance. Permeable planting areas promote stormwater infiltration, mitigate urban heat, and contribute to a more comfortable microclimate throughout the park.

The project's defining element is the Water Plaza, anchored by a 22 meter high sculptural landmark inspired by the aerial root systems of mangrove trees. Functioning simultaneously as public art, an urban landmark, and an interactive water feature, the structure releases choreographed water jets during the day and becomes an illuminated beacon at night. The plaza reinterprets the informal rooftop shower, a familiar element of local domestic architecture, transforming an everyday cultural reference into a collective civic experience. Adjacent sand areas evoke the atmosphere of Rio de Janeiro's beaches, extending the play environment and reinforcing the relationship between water, recreation, and public life.

A restrained yet expressive material palette strengthens the project's identity. Graphic interventions applied to the pavement introduce movement and orientation while referencing the chromatic language of the surrounding neighborhood. Terracotta tones recall exposed brick masonry, while vibrant blues reference the rooftop water tanks that define the local skyline, embedding the design within its cultural context.

Grounded in the principles of landscape architecture, Pavuna Park demonstrates how topography, ecological restoration, public space, and local identity can be integrated into a coherent landscape framework. The project transforms an underutilized hilltop into a resilient and inclusive civic landscape that fosters social interaction, environmental performance, and a renewed sense of belonging between the community and its territory.