Located in Guarujá (on the coast of São Paulo), this 525 m², two-story house was designed from scratch by architects
Ana Luisa Cairo and
Gustavo Prado , from the
A+G Arquitetura firm, and built on a 500 m² plot of land to be the
summer residence of a couple with a young child. In addition, the duo also helped the clients choose the plot of land from among the options available in the condominium and signed both the interior design and the final production.
“The clients are from Rio de Janeiro, living in São Paulo, and wanted a house with contemporary
architecture , but that would reflect a beach environment. Since it is a beach house to be used on weekends, holidays and vacations, they asked for
spacious, integrated and practical spaces . In addition, they also wanted green areas on the land, as they missed interacting with nature on a daily basis and noticed that the other houses in the condominium had very urban characteristics,” says Ana Luisa.
The structure of the house was made of concrete and part of it was treated to be visible. To do this, the architects used a slatted formwork to mark the beams on the edge of the house, the beveled planter on the front façade and the eaves of the second floor slab. To soften the visual weight of the eaves of the upper floor slab, inverted recessed beams were made.
The search for a light architectural “volume” and the combination of
natural materials – such as wood, fiber and leather – with exposed concrete and vegetation was the starting point for defining the project concept, as well as the
maximum integration of all the social areas of the house.
According to the architects, the wainscoting on the second floor, the black window frames and the slatted wood panel that camouflages the house's front door also stand out on the facades. "The second floor was designed in
two blocks connected by a walkway . This connection created a space with
double-height ceilings that allow the external wainscoting to enter through the living room ceiling," explains Gustavo.
The decor follows a
contemporary, laid-back style with beachy touches , but without excess, and is based on a neutral base punctuated by natural elements – such as wood, fiber and leather – and earthy tones. The only important piece that was already part of the client's collection and was used is the painting with tiles by
Athos Bulcão , which also guided the choice of colors for the house's social area.
As the house was designed for the clients to receive family and friends, the architects prioritized
comfortable and practical furniture , most of which was made of wood to “warm up” the spaces, as the entire floor is made of large-format light gray porcelain tiles.
“The wooden dining table and chairs, and the straw pendant lights created a
cozy beach vibe , while the sofa with an
off-white fabric cover and the four Butterfly armchairs with removable green seats are easy to clean,” says Ana Luisa. Positioned in the corner of the living room with TV, facing the outside area, the double armchair with a Costela stool invites you to read, relax or simply contemplate.
The
kitchen was designed
to be fully integrated with the living room and also has a direct connection to the gourmet area. To ensure natural light, improve ventilation and bring the greenery of the house's side garden into the space, the architects added a window between the countertop and the upper cabinets.
A request from the clients:
that all the suites be the same, with the same style of decoration , as well as practical and with a guesthouse feel. Therefore, with the exception of the master
suite , they have two single beds that can be joined together to form a double bed, as well as
open closets in both the bedroom and the bathroom and a support bench that offers the option of remote working.
“In the two bedrooms facing the front façade, the doors open onto planters,
giving the feeling that the greenery is inside the space . The two suites at the back open onto a large L-shaped balcony, facing the pool area,” explains Gustavo.
In the outdoor area, since the idea of the project was to create integrated environments, instead of building a separate annex to the house, the architects designed the
gourmet area as an extension of the kitchen . Next to it, there is the sauna, the lavatory and, at the back, the service area and a service bathroom. The pool was positioned so that it receives sun at all times of the year, in the morning and afternoon.
