Environmentally Friendly House with Open Gathering Area! Green and Natural!

This house in Sao Paulo, Brazil, has its own unique features. This 1500 square meter residence boasts a semi-open area with a flat roof where daily activities take place. Designed by Perkins+Will, this house is not only modern in design but also environmentally friendly. This can be seen in the recycled wood used in its ceiling grid.

The residence was designed with careful consideration of the surrounding natural environment. 50% of the land consists of gardens and flamboyant trees. Maintaining the existing conditions of the land presented a challenge for the architect in designing this house. The elongated plot of land gives the house distinct sharp lines and compartmentalized spaces.

The first thing the architect did was to understand the characteristics of the land. Choosing a focal point on the property to determine the theme made the design process easier. In this case, the flamboyant tree played a central role in the design. Leveraging the characteristics of this tree helped solve design challenges.

The main rooms of the house, such as the living room, dining area, and lobby, need to be interconnected and close to each other. These rooms are covered by a structural wooden grid that interconnects with the garden area. Among all the spaces, this area stands out the most.

The house is divided into three floors, each with different functions or zones. The ground floor serves as the public zone where the family gathers and receives guests. Upon entering the house, visitors are greeted by a corridor leading to the semi-open area.

On this floor, there's a kitchen, living room, office, dining area, and gym. It's quite spacious, in addition to the swimming pool and sunbathing area. The house features two dining areas - one near the kitchen and one in the semi-open area for a livelier atmosphere.

Moving to the basement floor, it serves as a service area. There's a housemaid's room, storage area, machinery, and vehicle parking. The service area is connected to a void and stairs leading to the kitchen on the ground floor. Additionally, there's direct access from the vehicle parking area to the ground floor via the main staircase.

The top floor is dedicated to private spaces, featuring five bedrooms with their own en-suite bathrooms. Additionally, there's a family room for gatherings. Each bedroom has its own unique view. The trapezoid-shaped building has windows on its inclined sides, providing views of the open garden area inside the house.

A spacious balcony with glass railings serves as a safety feature for this open area. The balcony is accessible through the family room. What makes this house unique isn't just the semi-open area, but also the sports facilities like the gym and swimming pool. The elongated pool in the outdoor area is directly connected to the semi-open area, as well as the guest bedroom and living room inside the building.

Despite the openness and complementarity of the spaces inside the house, the front of the house appears enclosed. It's covered with partitions, gray walls, and an elevated entrance, contrasting with its interior. Nevertheless, natural elements still shine through with climbing plants, existing trees, and a wooden grid ceiling that complements the structure inside the house. The exterior of the house is modern and minimalist.

A modern and minimalist style, while still considering the surrounding environment or its initial state, reduces waste in the design process. Additionally, a house that integrates with nature in an open setting is an environmentally-friendly design, especially for urban areas. Providing inspiration and a good example is another task for architects in designing homes.

source: flamboyan residence