Amazônia, the massive Amazon Rainforest region of South America, is one of the most environmentally significant regions in the world, and its degradation is an ongoing global concern. Our project, Parque Amazônia has been conceived to create educational and research opportunities to make a positive impact environmentally and financially on the region. The World Tourism Organization (WTO) maintains that the essential component in Ecotourism is the "inherent quality and authenticity of the landscape, wildlife, and the cultural experience." This description follows exactly the design intent of this project, placing emphasis on the landscape first, and ensuring that the total experience is not degraded, but enhanced by the manmade additions. We based Parque Amazônia, on four founding principles of Education, Ecotourism, Sustainability, and Conservation with the ultimate goal of using those principles to heighten global awareness of rainforest issues within the constructs of an ecologically sound, and financially viable ecotourism experience for the Government of the State of Pará.

 

The Parque Amazônia site is just 20 km east of downtown Belém, Brazil--a city of over a million people, and historically known as the birthplace of Amazônian culture. Parque Amazônia offers its guests an opportunity to explore the wonders and beauty of the rainforest, while learning about its global importance. The site's location adjacent to a major metropolitan area benefits from its proximity to an international airport and support services, while serving as a buffer and a means for protecting the periphery of the rainforest ecosystem from encroaching urban sprawl while providing opportunities for nature and culture based tourism benefiting the local populace.

The site for Parque Amazônia comprises roughly nineteen-thousand acres along the banks of the Guamá River, part of the Amazon River Estuary. Of that, thirteen-thousand acres (68%) of the site are existing primary and secondary Rainforest which our masterplan preserves in State controlled Conservation areas. All proposed improvements are limited to 1,900 acres (only 10% of the site) on primarily open, rolling land which had been deforested in the 1800's when it was occupied by the Pirelli rubber plantation. The remaining four-thousand plus acres (22%) of open land will be used as a combination of open space and reforestation areas to further buffer the existing forest and varzéa (flooded forest) systems. Development will occur without any clearcutting of Rainforest - maintaining the forest intact as the project's focal point and main attraction.

68% Primary Rainforest

32% Former Pirelli Rubber Plantation

 

© 2006 Morris Architects