A
contemporary architecture residence is a comfortable retreat for a couple and their two children. Located in a
gated community about an hour away from the city of São Paulo, the house is surrounded by a
wooded area , which was essential in guiding the project and bringing the
connection with nature that the residents desired.
Cité Arquitetura , part of
CASACOR Rio de Janeiro , was chosen to bring soul and transform the house into a true home for its residents. The office's proposal was to
take advantage of the steep slope of the land and create a scale of
intimacy between its spaces .
Japanese decor has become a guide for creating perfect harmony with nature. The challenge was launched by residents who had lived in the country for a while and wanted to bring the calm atmosphere of Japan to their home in Brazil. For this reason, the residence was named
Casa Japão and its entire architecture was focused on enhancing the landscape and giving due
prominence to the sky and the Sea of Hills .
The residence has
over 524 m² divided into three floors in
an L shape . Despite its spaciousness, Cité did not focus on filling all the spaces, and
minimalism prevailed in the composition. The contrast between solid and empty spaces, based on the use of
different ceiling heights and light windows , runs throughout the project, accentuating the view of the hills and surrounding vegetation, ensuring a welcoming atmosphere throughout the house.
Japanese Philosophy: A Guide to Architecture
Japan is rich in concepts and mantras, and one in particular guided the Cité in the architecture of the residence: the concept of Ma, which can be interpreted as “in between”, an empty space where life is created . Written in kanji through the combination of the symbols for door (門) and sun (日), Ma (間) is an area in which the emptiness of architecture should be thought of from the natural qualities that embrace it . Taking this literally, the house was designed with
sensory input in mind, so that each room evokes an emotion. For example, the bedrooms were designed to
ensure isolation and privacy , while the living room is the pinnacle of hospitality, with a
double-height six-meter ceiling that surprises and makes the place brighter and more ventilated, perfect for entertaining in comfort.
In the hallway,
openings for the entry of light in the form of loopholes discreetly reveal the landscape, increasing, by contrast, the impact of the large openings of balconies and windows in the bedrooms and ensuring the constant passage of air.
The decor is a very coherent mix of Japanese and Brazilian decor. On the one hand, the office opted for neutral-colored coverings and filtering elements, such as
fixed and slatted brises-soleil , which are related to both Japanese architecture, with
translucent shoji doors, and Brazilian architecture, with
cobogós and brises-soleil .
