In broad terms, the master plan consists of two main axes, a monumental axis where the governmental programmatic components are sited, and a residential axis. The latter is formed by rows of neighborhood units lined along a 12km highway. Each unit is composed of four large residential blocks with shared commercial and institutional facilities.
The configuration of the residential blocks, commonly referred to as Superquadras (“super blocks”), is a 280m square occupied by long, six-storey slab apartment buildings. The first floor of these buildings were conceived as being raised in pilotis to promote the integration of landscape and architecture, and to undermine a sense of private ownership. However, building codes have overtime allowed an increased occupation of the ground level.
The density figures presented here were calculated assuming a household size of 3.7 individuals, and includes the ground level as part of the Superquadra’s gross floor area. Furthermore, calculations are based on an average number of units per block. Previous studies have shown that density figures can vary considerably from a Superquadra to another