Piedade House

Located on a privileged plot of over 1.5 hectares, in a residential condominium on the banks of the Itupararanga reservoir, in the city of Piedade, in the countryside of São Paulo, this project designed to serve as a vacation home for a family that enjoys hosting their friends.

Commissioned by a couple of clients whose small prefabricated house and existing leisure addition were no longer sufficient to meet their needs and accommodate the large number of guests, the project's main objective was to create connected social and leisure spaces, as well as to provide the appropriate number of bedrooms for guests.

To achieve this, the neighboring land acquired, and the pre-existing housing demolished, expanding the space for the reception of the new construction, while keeping only the leisure addition, where the barbecue grill, solarium, and a small pool belonging to the old house are located.

The trapezoidal-shaped sloping terrain with a large plateau at the arrival level indicated two elements that seemed to guide the new deployment: the stunning view of the reservoir and the existing building located in the center of the lot at a lower level.

The new construction emerges in direct response to physical and geographical constraints (topography, views, solar orientation, and prevailing winds): three independent volumes, united by a wooden pergola, delicately rest on the highest level of the land, from where it is possible to have a broader view of the landscape surround the residence.

The first volume, located closer to the entrance, offers space to accommodate up to six cars in the garage. Meanwhile, in the second block, of larger dimensions and aligned with the waterline, the social areas, services, and suites (for children and guests) are located on the ground floor, while the master suite and home theater occupy the first floor. In the last volume, arranged perpendicularly to the main one, the pavilion houses spaces dedicated to well-being and entertainment, including a gourmet area, gym, sauna, and changing room, directly integrated with the pool, which features a 25-meter long lane.

With a main structure in concrete and a wooden pergola, the house becomes a large veranda when the glass windows are opened, blurring the physical and visual boundaries between the interior and the garden. Reinforcing the concept, the materials that cover the interior also applied on the exterior, such as the floor, and the absence of level differences highlights spatial continuity.

In the social interior, the layout of the living room positioned towards the unfolding landscape on the horizon. To balance the generous proportions, the large sofa complemented by a set of bench and armchairs, suggesting pleasant moments of family conversations. The main lighting of the space provided by a trio of pendants with an indirect system that reflect the light emission onto the ceiling and subsequently throughout the space.

In the dining room, with traditional height, the palette of natural materials emphasizes the cozy atmosphere, with the side wall covered in stones and the main wall in wooden slats that mimic the pass-through with an articulated opening system.

The distribution of the suites occurs on two floors, with four of them on the ground floor, protected by wooden louvers, and the master suite on the upper floor, accessed through the generous staircase that emerges from a glass volume dedicated specifically to vertical circulation and visible from the entrance.

Blurring the boundaries between inside and outside, in the fluid circulation gallery, glass panels visually bring the entrance garden into the interior, like a living canvas in constant transformation. On the opposite side, dividing the volume of the bedrooms into two blocks, the landscaped patio framing the view and preserving the pair of native trees.

On the upper floor, the arrangement of the central void organizes the two environments, with the master suite arranged on the right side and the home theater on the opposite side - both with private balconies - separated by a walkway with a view of the landscape through generous glazed frames. In the bedroom, transparency contributes to the pleasant ambiance of the resting space.

With special attention to all scales, the design of the guardrail transcends its primary function and acts as a wide linear bookcase to accommodate the residents' literary collection.

For the best use of daytime activities, a diversified program created in the leisure pavilion to support the existing annex, which included areas dedicated to parties. In the new installation, transparency accentuates the visual permeability of the ensemble, in a harmonious relationship between the built landscape and the natural exuberance of the surroundings. The arrangement of the pool allows to the reservoir view enjoyed from the edge.

Technical sheet
Project: Piedade House
Location: Piedade, São Paulo, Brazil
Project Year: 2020
Conclusion Year: 2023
Plot Area: 15.775 m²
Built Area: 1.706 m²
Architecture Design: ARKITITO Arquitetura
Design Team: Chantal Ficarelli, Tito Ficarelli, Stefano Fernandes
Photos: Manuel Sá
Text: Matheus Pereira
Manufacturers: Cerâmica Eliane, Hertz Esquadrias, Construtora ONIT