Armando de Holanda Cavalcanti Metropolitan Park

  • Prize
    Jury's Favorite in Landscape Architecture - Cultural Heritage landscape
  • Company/Firm
    Natureza Urbana
  • Lead Designer
    Manoela Machado, Pedro Lira and Camila Sanches
  • Design Team
    Breno Pilot, Laís Pimentel, Luan Neske, Julia Ximenes, Pedro Borba, Pedro Norberto and Robert Borba
  • Other Credit
    BRL, Geonoma, Fredrico Queiroz, Clívia Borba and Daniel Figueiredo
  • Photographer Credit
    Natureza Urbana
  • Location
    Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Pernambuco, Brazil
  • Client
    UNESCO and Suape

The Armando de Holanda Cavalcanti Metropolitan Park (PMAHC) is a significant environmental and cultural asset in Northeast Brazil, with unique historical and geological features. It marks the final rupture point between the South American and African continents approximately 102 million years ago during continental drift movements. This makes PMAHC a strong candidate for Geopark classification, focused on protecting and celebrating geological resources.

With its diverse landscape, geological, environmental, historical, religious and cultural assets, the park holds great tourist appeal. However, current infrastructure limits visitor experience. To address this, a public-private partnership was structured to improve attractions, conserve biodiversity, and generate social and economic benefits.

The masterplan focuses on three key areas: “Illumination” highlights natural and built assets like historic buildings and geological features. “Connection” aims to make the park accessible for visitors to engage with nature and water. “Tourism” involves developing support facilities, food services, recreational spaces, and a museum linked to the Geopark.