CASACOR / HIF 2026 brings together global architecture in São Paulo
The HIF – Hunter International Forum, will bring together some of the leading names in world architecture in São Paulo on September 29th and 30th, 2026. Among Thomas Heatherwick, Tatiana Bilbao, Arthur Casas, Kai-Uwe Bergmann, and Solano Benítez is Gehl People, an international firm that is currently participating in a discussion particularly relevant to Florianópolis: the future of public spaces in the city center.
The connection is concrete. In 2026, Florianópolis unveiled the masterplan “Floripa Centro: Repensando seus espaços públicos para pessoas”, developed by Gehl as part of the Centro Para Todos program. In other words, the project offers a fresh reading of the city center from a human scale, considering how people move, linger, interact, and experience the city.
See more here → Gehl Architects will transform Florianópolis, drawing inspiration from Copenhagen and New York.
At HIF, Gehl presents precisely “Public Space, Public Life”So, the lecture brings to the stage of an international forum an approach that already contributes to the urban planning of Florianópolis and allows us to observe this work within a broader discussion on architecture, mobility, public space, and quality of life.
The event takes place at the Simon Bolívar Auditorium, at the Memorial da América Latina, and reaches its second edition with two days of lectures, panels and experiences. The program covers different scales of contemporary architecture, from the design of public spaces to materials, from professional practice to urban regeneration.
Why should HIF 2026 be noticed from Florianópolis?
Gehl built its international work on an idea that transformed the way cities are observed: before designing spaces, it is necessary to understand how people actually use them.
This perspective is associated with the work of Danish urbanist Jan Gehl and has guided urban projects and transformations in different parts of the world. Today, Copenhagen and New York are among the best-known references of this trajectory.
Now, this methodology is also part of Florianópolis' planning.
The masterplan “Floripa Centro: Rethinking Public Spaces for People” proposes treating public space as a structuring element of urban life. Thus, streets, gathering areas, movement and relationships between different uses are no longer analyzed in isolation and instead form an integrated vision of the central region.
The project is organized around five axes. Therefore, sustainable mobility prioritizes active modes and public transportation. Accordingly, public spaces are linked to climate resilience and environmental comfort. Planning for children uses childhood as a benchmark for urban quality. The concept of complete neighborhoods, meanwhile, brings housing, work, and services closer together. Finally, seasonal tourism enters the discussion through the balance between economic activity and quality of life throughout the year.
This combination makes Gehl's participation at HIF particularly timely for Florianópolis. While the forum presents international discussions on the future of architecture and cities, part of this body of work is already being incorporated into an urban project in the capital of Santa Catarina.
Gehl brings to HIF the relationship between public space and public life
Gehl will be represented at HIF by Rute Nieto Ferreira, Senior Project Manager at the firm, architect and urban planner with two decades of experience.
Your career includes work in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Portugal, and the United States. Among your fields of interest are neighborhoods, public spaces, child-centered urbanism, and collaborative urban design processes.
On September 29, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Gehl presents “Public Space, Public Life”.
The relationship between these two concepts is at the core of the firm's methodology. Physical space influences movement, lingering, encounters, and everyday activities. Therefore, understanding the life that unfolds between buildings helps guide decisions about streets, squares, and other urban environments.
In Florianópolis, this approach guides the masterplan for Centro. The project was also developed through workshops with technicians from the Prefeitura (City Hall) and representatives of various sectors of society, incorporating local perspectives into the development of the proposals.
The lecture at HIF therefore offers an opportunity to explore the principles behind an urban discussion already underway in the city.
What is HIF?
Created by Architecture Hunter, HIF reaches its second edition, bringing together architects, urban planners, designers, and students around the present and future of architecture on a global scale.
The event will take place at the Auditório Simon Bolívar, at Memorial da América Latina, in São Paulo. On September 29 and 30, the program combines talks, panels, and experiences.
The curation brings together professionals from different countries, generations, and fields of practice. In this way, the forum allows us to observe diverse responses to contemporary questions in architecture, from human experience in cities to materials, social impact, as well as identity and environmental transformation.
Diversity is also reflected in the combination of major international firms and prominent names from Brazilian architecture.
Thomas Heatherwick, Tatiana Bilbao, BIG and other names at HIF
Thomas Heatherwick, founder and design director of Heatherwick Studio, closes the first day with “Humanise”.
The British architect and designer brings to HIF a discussion directly related to human experience in architecture. In this way, his presence also helps reveal one of the guiding threads of the program: the relationship between what is designed and how people experience spaces.
Tatiana Bilbao, founder and principal architect of Tatiana Bilbao Estudio, presents “Da Mesa à Cidade”. The title already suggests a movement across different scales, bringing architecture and urban context closer together.
The Brazilian Arthur Casas, founder and principal architect of Studio Arthur Casas, takes part with “Em Primeira Pessoa: Arthur Casas | Pesquisa, Prática e Inovação na Arquitetura”.
On the second day, Solano Benítez, architect and founder of Jopói de Arquitectura, presents “O Lugar da Arquitetura”.
Pat Bosch, design director and principal at Perkins&Will, brings “Um Haicai, um Poema e um Enigma” to the event.
The program also welcomes Kofi Bio, executive director of the Adjaye Associates Accra office, with “Nosso Material Mais Abundante: Construindo para um Planeta em Transformação”.
The closing session features Kai-Uwe Bergmann, partner at BIG, Bjarke Ingels Group, who presents “Materialismo”.
Together, these presentations place different questions in perspective. Materials, cities, public space, innovation, social impact, and human experience are connected by a broader question: how does architecture respond to the transformations of contemporary life?
Brazilian architecture also holds a central place
Brazilian architecture has an important presence at HIF 2026.
On the first day, Luis Andre Guedes and Pablo do Vale, founding partners of Guá Arquitetura, present “Design e Arquitetura como Impacto Social”.
Next, Manoela Machado and Pedro Lira, founding partners of Natureza Urbana, lead “Espaços Vivos para Futuros Regenerativos”.
On the 30th, Fernando Forte, Lourenço Gimenes and Rodrigo Marcondes Ferraz, founding partners of FGMF Arquitetos, present “Contexto, Transição e Tectônica”.
The program also brings together Luís Rebelo de Andrade and Tiago Rebelo de Andrade, of Rebelo de Andrade, in a round table.
Another session brings together institutions connected to important Brazilian legacies. Taking part are Bruno Simões, curator of Instituto Bardi / Casa de Vidro, Isabela Ono, founding board member and executive director of Instituto Burle Marx, and Marco Artigas, architect and president of Instituto Virgínia e Vilanova Artigas.
The conversation will be moderated by Ana Paula de Assis, editor of POP-SE and Decornautas and Design curator of Forbes Under 30 Brasil.
HIF Program: Day 1 / September 29
The first day begins at 8 a.m. with the opening. At 9 a.m., the event announces the finalists of the Architecture Hunter Awards 2026.
From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Arthur Casas presents “Em Primeira Pessoa: Arthur Casas | Pesquisa, Prática e Inovação na Arquitetura”.
Next, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Tatiana Bilbao leads “Da Mesa à Cidade”.
After lunch, Guá Arquitetura presents “Design e Arquitetura como Impacto Social”, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
From 3pm to 4pm, Natureza Urbana presents “Living Spaces for Regenerative Futures”.
After the break, one of the most anticipated moments for anyone following the urban transformation of Florianópolis arrives. From 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM, Gehl People presents “Espaço Público, Vida Pública”.
Thomas Heatherwick closes the first day, from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM, with “Humanise”.
HIF Schedule: Day 02 / September 30
The second day begins at 8am. At 9am, Pat Bosch presents “Um Haicai, um Poema e um Enigma”.
Then, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Solano Benítez leads “O Lugar da Arquitetura.”
From 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Bruno Simões, Isabela Ono and Marco Artigas take part in the roundtable moderated by Ana Paula de Assis.
After lunch, Fernando Forte, Lourenço Gimenes and Rodrigo Marcondes Ferraz present “Contexto, Transição e Tectônica” (Context, Transition and Tectonics), from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Next, Luís Rebelo de Andrade and Tiago Rebelo de Andrade take part in a round-table discussion.
After the break, Kofi Bio presents “Our Most Abundant Material: Building for a Planet in Transformation,” from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Finally, Kai-Uwe Bergmann closes the HIF with “Materialism,” from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM.
Architectural experiences enhance the program
The HIF also brings part of the experience to other spaces in São Paulo.
Before the official opening, on September 28, the program includes a visit to Cidade Matarazzo with Adam Kurdahl, founding partner of SPOL Architects, as well as a Open Studio MK27The two experiences are sold out.
After the two days of the forum, the activities continue.
On October 1st, there will be a visit to the Japan House with Hayato Fujii", general project manager in Brazil at Kengo Kuma & Associates, and FGMF. Another session of Open Studio MK27 takes place on the same date and is also sold out.
On October 2nd, the agenda includes an open studio and a site visit with the Jacobsen Arquitetura, equally sold out, in addition to a guided tour with Sol Camacho at Alma Mater.
Finally, the experiences complement the lectures by bringing participants closer to spaces, projects, and studios. In this way, different ways of thinking about architecture can also be observed outside the auditorium.
How to Follow HIF 2026
O HIF 2026 takes place on September 29 and 30, at the Auditório Simon Bolívar, at the Memorial da América Latina, in São Paulo.
The program starts at 8 a.m. on both days and runs until 6:30 p.m. For those traveling to São Paulo, the Memorial is located in Barra Funda and has connections to the subway, train, and bus terminal at Estação Palmeiras-Barra Funda.
Those who stay in Florianópolis will also be able to follow the forum. The Online Access costs BRL 350 and offers live streaming of the main lectures and debates.
The event will also feature simultaneous interpretation between Portuguese and English for both in-person and online attendees.
More information → https://hif.architecturehunter.com/
From Downtown Florianópolis to the Global Debate on Cities
Gehl's participation in HIF brings together two scales that, at first glance, seem far apart. In São Paulo, an international forum discusses architecture and the future of cities. In Florianópolis, one of these approaches is already part of the planning of an area essential to the urban life of the capital.
The masterplan for the Centro brings sustainable mobility, climate resilience, public spaces, childhood, complete neighborhoods, and quality of life together within a single vision. In this way, the project broadens the discussion on urban development beyond isolated interventions.
This perspective is also of interest to those who follow architecture and the real estate market. The experience of living begins inside the home, but extends to the street, the neighborhood, and the city. Walkability, social spaces, mobility, services, landscape, and the quality of public spaces shape people's everyday relationship with the place where they chose to live.
In a city like Florianópolis…
Shaped by a singular geography and an intense relationship between nature and urban occupation, thinking about growth calls for special attention to these connections.
The Gehl work in the Centro insert Florianópolis into an international discussion on people-oriented cities. The HIF allows us to observe this approach alongside other contemporary architectural visions, presented by professionals working in different countries, cultures and scales.
Therefore, Gehl's presence at the forum goes beyond a mere coincidence in the schedule. While Rute Nieto Ferreira discusses “Espaço Público, Vida Pública” on the stage of the Memorial da América Latina, Florianópolis is already turning these concepts into urban planning.
It is precisely at this intersection of global references and local reality that HIF 2026 gains relevance for those who follow the present and, above all, the future of architecture in Florianópolis.
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