Aquapraça: A Floating Plaza

Maestro Technologies is proud to serve as the technical coordinator and project manager for AquaPraça, a 400-square-meter floating cultural plaza set to anchor COP30 in Belém, Brazil. Designed by CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati and Höweler + Yoon, this submersible steel structure represents a complex engineering feat that harnesses Archimedes’ principle to adapt to changing water levels.

For this project, Maestro Technologies acted as the central link between the architectural vision and the industrial reality. While the physical steel production was executed by the renowned Italian constructor Cimolai, Maestro utilized the Maestro Method to oversee the entire lifecycle of the build. By converting the complex architectural geometry into a comprehensive Digital Twin, Maestro was able to validate design decisions in real-time, optimize the fabrication strategy, and strictly monitor the manufacturing process—ensuring precision before the first steel plate was cut.

The project highlights the power of the Maestro Platform in managing complex, multi-stakeholder supply chains. Through digital coordination, Maestro facilitated the seamless integration of advanced sensing technologies within the heavy steel hull, allowing the structure to dynamically adjust its buoyancy. This data-driven approach was critical in preparing the structure for its dual debut: first at the Biennale Architettura 2025 in Venice, and subsequently its transatlantic journey to the Amazon.

AquaPraça serves as a proof of concept that digital project management is as crucial as physical manufacturing in modern construction. By using a digital twin to orchestrate the workflow between the design teams and the manufacturers, Maestro ensured that this floating infrastructure could be delivered with the rigor required for a permanent landmark. This approach successfully bridged the gap between advanced Italian engineering and the demanding Amazonian environment, guaranteeing a legacy that endures beyond the exhibition.