The architect Mônica Gervásio – from the cast of
CASACOR Rio de Janeiro – is responsible for the complete renovation of this
beach house located in Búzios, a traditional seaside resort in the Lagos Region of Rio de Janeiro. With 1000 m² of built area on a 5000 m² plot, the single-story residence – with only one suite on the upper floor – belongs to a family that has summered in the area for over 30 years.
The property, whose origin dates back to the 1950s or 1960s, contains illustrious stories:
Brigitte Bardot used to stay here during her visits to the city. Preserving this affective memory, without compromising current comfort and aesthetics, was the starting point for the architect, who collaborated with landscaping by
André Piquet.
According to Mônica, the clients requested a complete renovation of all projects – including updates to coverings, lighting, furniture, layout, and landscaping — but with an essential request: to maintain the soul of the original construction. “
We took care not to alter the facades too much,” says the architect who painted windows and doors with a color called Repouso Azul (by Coral) and respected the architectural style typical of Búzios.
Among the main structural interventions are the elimination of uneven levels and unnecessary stairs, better division of internal spaces, expansion of projects, and creation of new rooms, and especially large pergolas that transformed into porches and living areas. The
bedrooms gained
bathrooms and were transformed into suites, the
kitchen was completely remodeled and a new
gourmet space was built from scratch.
Pergolas, porches, a garden, circulation paths, and an elevated lounge over the old boat house were also created — designed to offer a privileged view of the sea and sunset.
Currently, the house includes an entry hall,
dining room, living room, area with fireplace, TV room, linen room, lavatory, kitchen, pantry, laundry room, maid’s room with bathroom, and six suites — two of which are intended for guests.
In the external area, besides a second lavatory, the porches stand out, which are extensive pergolas with two living areas, two swings, and a round table ideal for breakfast. At the end of the plot, the gourmet space accommodates a table for 10 people and is equipped with a grill, cooktop, and pizza oven. Completing the project are the existing pool, a lookout lounge facing the sea, storage rooms, a caretaker's house, and accesses distributed throughout the plot.
The decorative proposal follows a contemporary beach style, based on a color palette of whites and beiges. The colors appear pointillistically, especially in the bedrooms, which were decorated with bedding, cushions, and curtains in shades of blue, green, yellow, pink, and aqua. “We prioritized large, comfortable furniture in neutral tones made with natural materials such as natural fibers and certified woods,” highlights the architect. The original structure of the raw wood roof was preserved while the pergolas gained woven bamboo straw linings, ensuring pleasant shade and thermal comfort.
Among the finishes, standout features include sand-toned porcelain flooring, pure cotton and linen fabrics, natural fiber rugs and sustainable materials, and custom woodwork throughout the projects – featuring sliding doors made of freijó wood. Most interior walls were painted white, while some received natural stone coverings.
Among the main highlights of this project are the customized carpentry present in all the projects, the visual and material integration between the rooms, and the predominant use of natural fibers and ecological woods. The project, which took a year and five months from design, approval, execution, to completion, faced the main challenge of modernizing the residence without compromising its original characteristics.
