The central floor of Nitsche Arquitetos' project is conceived as a space that complements the other two levels, a large open-plan room in which to stay, surrounded by sliding glass panels that blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors.
The upper floor, supported by a structure of four pillars and two large steel trusses, contains five bedrooms with en suite bathrooms. The windows of these rooms, which also open onto the greenery, have large concrete panels that energise the façade and can be closed to preserve the privacy of the users.
The construction process was conditioned by the limited working space, which is why prefabricated materials and on-site assembly were used, thus reducing the carbon footprint.
Guarujá House by Nitsche Arquitetos. Photograph by André Scarpa.
Project description by Nitsche Arquitetos
The Guarujá House, located in the city of Guarujá on the coast of São Paulo, sits within a gated community that is part of a protected area of the original Atlantic Forest. To preserve the richness of this native forest, local regulations permit only 30% of the land area to be developed. The challenge was to accommodate a program that required at least 450 m² of built space. To achieve this, the design was divided into three levels.
The 1,310 m² lot, which has a constant slope of 14%, allowed for the inclusion of a basement, covered by a concrete slab. This space houses the garage, technical areas, sauna, and spa, the latter offering views of the surrounding forest. Additionally, there is a small accommodation for a couple of employees, as well as a laundry room and a storage area.
Four steel pillars elevate the volume of the bedrooms, supported by two Pratt Trusses, creating a free space between the first floor and the basement. The bedroom windows open to the treetops, and the shade created by the structure defines the social area. The central floor is an almost entirely open space, protected by sliding glass panels, allowing views of the forest from all angles. Cement folding panels ensure privacy while adding dynamism to the façade. Large sliding glass doors allow the bedrooms and kitchen to seamlessly merge with a covered outdoor space, dissolving the boundaries between interior and exterior, creating a cohesive integration of all spaces on this level.
The construction process was more of an assembly of components than a traditional on-site build, minimizing waste and speeding up construction time. This approach was especially effective given the limited work area, utilizing industrialized materials to their fullest potential.
