In her Varanda house (2013), a house made for the granddaughter of great architect Sergio Bernardes and a Colombian artist, one of the main goal was also to preserve the centenary trees and her relationship with surroundings.
A second strategy is the movement and the control of views. The use of temporary scaffolding materials for her well-know Humanidade Pavilion, rise alongside Copacabana beach in 2012, allowed her to guide the movement of visitors, alternating enclosed exhibition spaces with spectacular views of the Rio de Janeiro bay.
Architecture by minimal gestures that responding both to the setting and to the desires and needs of the client who will live her architecture.
Description of project by Carla Juaçaba
The house develops as a pavilion parallel to the contour lines, it is totally adapted to the terrain, and invisible from the street.
The Residence sits on a slope in Santa Teresa, a hilly neighborhood in the central region of Rio de Janeiro, on a densely green area and over 10 meters of unevenness. It was built near the street, next to the highest levels, enabling its building and the access.
Thus, the house develops as a pavilion parallel to the contour lines, settling on two floors. At the highest level there are the entry, kitchen, dining room and bedrooms, while the living room is in the lower level, 2 meters down. Facing the slope, every permanent-use environment offers panoramic views.
The two levels are connected by a glazed gallery, located in the part surrounded by the street and leaning in the rest of the house by the ridge line. The roof is precisely the most important element of the design, composed of four different inclination lines and two different materials.
The first Challenge was to develop the project according to the low costs, so the principle was a lightweight structure that was repeated many times, which made the project affordable. Also to open the house entirely to the forest, and the entry completely protected.
The house is not seen from the street. As if it was not there. It is built in a preserved area of Rio de Janeiro, and we have to keep all the trees, which was a challenge to the project. In addition to guaranteeing the privacy of the residents, the opacity draws silhouettes, seen from both inside and outside.
To guarantee the privacy of the residents, the opacity draws silhouettes, seen from both inside and outside: those who move inside glimpse the shadow of an old tree next to the perimeter of the construction, and those who watch from outside it can see the silhouette of who is walking in the gallery. The frosted glass used on the sloping faces facing the street is an important element of the design.
At night, artificial light changes the perception and makes this part of the house look like a giant flashlight.
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