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Description submitted by the project team. Casa JR is located in the Pinheiros neighborhood, São Paulo. It was designed from an existing property that had most of its structure maintained. However, throughout the demolition, it was found that the construction was compromised and that structural adjustments would be necessary. We were guided by some main elements: the first of them was the program that the clients gave us, a young couple with 3 children. From there, we adapt our project idea and the client’s needs to the limitations of the existing house, but with some freedom for structural adjustments. These adjustments gave us more spatial and project flexibility, thus enabling the clients’ wishes.
Another important point initially decided was the maintenance of the original façade of the house: both the white brick volume and the trapezoidal concrete balcony were elements that captivated us at the first glance at the site. The rear façade was completely redesigned, especially for the new floor plan where the living room opens completely to the rear garden and three bedrooms with identical windows are arranged along the upper part of the volume.
The work of the office was also carefully developed in architectural elements that connect the interior points with the exterior, such as the wooden ceiling that connects the dining room with the outdoor grill patio: internally, the wooden planks provide acoustic and visual comfort and They are also responsible for the indirect lighting of the environment. Outside, the wood protects from the sun, creating a cozy space. Following that same line of continuity, the kitchen countertop becomes a sideboard in the dining room and also a work place for the grill on the outside balcony. Another subtle and special element of the project is the dining room bar: with its “pear”-shaped design, the doors open upwards to reveal a mirrored niche. All interior designs and furniture selection, if not designed, were done by the office.
The biggest obstacle in the process was the structural part. The discovery of the undersizing of the beams and slabs of the original house delayed the work and raised the initial costs. So that it was not necessary to make large and expensive structural reinforcements, the masonry walls of the upper floor and roof were removed and replaced with lighter wall panel walls, relieving the weight of the slab. The roof was also replaced with a lightweight metal tile, which also reduced its weight.
The spatial configuration of the house and the distribution of the program were guided by the original implementation of the house on the ground floor. The entrances, interior distribution and openings were significantly modified. On the upper floor, the clients’ desire to have 3 suites for their children in addition to the bride and groom’s bedroom led to the total redistribution of the floor and the alteration of the facades. The master suite now occupies the entire front of the house and opens onto the trapezoidal balcony.
