Skip to main content

Arthur Casas - Casa in Santana de Parnaíba

Arthur Casas
Casa in Santana de Parnaíba


Arthur has created an opulent São Paulo residence here, in stark contrast to my last entry on Prefab in Brazil. The use of prefabricated concrete panels and a steel skeletal structure made this a super quick build in Brazilian terms at just 10 months. I love the two storey glass sliding door! Fantastic! It's just so open!

One of Arthur's other works that I love is his house in
Iporanga - São Paulo. Clad in local wood with a double height central living area flanked by cozy sleeping and eating spaces, wonderful!















My rough translations once again:

Rigorous planning guarantees strict and swift execution of this project.

Open plan living, not only in the flow between living areas, but also with the outdoors, was one of the most important points in the brief for this residence of steel and concrete, situated in a gated condominium in Santana de Parnaíba, a city in the greater São Paulo area. The organisation of construction, detailing and finishing of this work into compatible mini projects to be completed simultaneously, allowed the house to be completed without interruptions in just 10 months.
When one talks of minuscule detailing, compatibility of projects, sequencing and the use of prefabricated solutions, the first image to mind is large skyscrapers or buildings usually commercial in nature. This residence of around 500 built square metres, designed by Arthur Casas and finished in 10 months, is one of the exception that confirms the rule.
The choice of a steel skeletal structure for the build was one of the factors that drove the project towards a production line factory type build. "The system requires modulation and planned solutions" says Arthur Casas. This requirement, meant that 4 months were invested in pre build planning. Time spent in planning was recuperated in the clockwork executed construction of the house, that didn't need on the spot alterations, so common these days in an architecturally designed house.
For the outer protective skin of the house, Casa chose prefabricated concrete panels, some raw, others with a sprayed on textured mineral coating. Common in industrial warehouses, this solution appeared as a practical alternative, functional and easily integrated into the design of the house, defined by svelte lines and great transparent openings. The same prefab concrete slabs but without the textured coating, make up the external patios.
Internally ,the house is define by two symmetrical blocks and for integrated areas. "In the brief, the client made it very clear that what they didn't want was living compartmentalised by walls" says Casas. The division of rooms was made longitudinally, reserving half the downstairs area of the larger space for the kitchen, dining and outdoor Churrasqueria (a proper BBQ), all linked visually and divided by sliding glass doors. The other half was left for a small guest bedroom, atelier and large living area, separated from the dining area by a pivoting door and the fireplace.
The end of the living area is closed off by that HUGE sliding picture door, painted white. This automated door moves easily to close off either the living area, or protect the outdoor BBQ area from the wind. "She moves so easily that we opted to automate it, in order to slow it's movement and prevent accidents," says Casas. The two storey living room is even more impressive due to the use of floor to ceiling glass along two of its sides. Which as the architect wanted, allows light and the outside in.
The wooden stairs lead up to the second storey with the master and another guest bedroom. The open circulation areas is protected by a glass railing as is the stairway. Also on this floor, but with a private entry are the laundry/service areas and maids quarters.
To unify the build, the architect specified very few finishing materials. The Tauari wood floors appear in all rooms, even the kitchen and the concrete walls are plastered internally. The exception being the bathroom with marble flooring and tiled walls.

Arthur Casas graduated from the FAU/Mackenzie in 1983. His practice covers architecture, interior design and furniture. One of his most famous works being the Hotel Emiliano (São Paulo) and the remodelling of the Brazilian Embassy in Buenos Aires. Well awarded he has offices in São Paulo and New York.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Great blog you have here. I also love Arthur Casas' house at Iporanga -- simple and elegant. We seem to have a similar eye for residential design. Keep up the great work!
Nick Allen said…
Thanks Joel,

Yes. Arthur's work is special. He really thinks about the entire design, inside and out.

Let me see if I can get his Iporanga house or others up soon.


Nick

Popular posts from this blog

Andrew Lister - Hughes Kinugawa House

Andrew Lister Hughes Kinugawa House Overlooking an estuary in Waterview, Auckland, New Zealand, this house has great northern views out over the bay. Like its owners, a wonderful blend of Japanese and New Zealand culture the house sings compact Japanese simplicity with a green Kiwi bach twist. Inconspicuously blending in with the surrounding garden of imported succulents, cacti and mature local trees, the raw cedar weatherboards are a greener take on the vernacular white weatherboard planks common throughout NZ. The house consists of two cubes, connected by a wide corridor housing the bathroom and toilet. The bigger brother of the two cubes holding: the eat-in kitchen, living come library and a guest loft above. Double height windows bathe the living area with light, complementing the dark bookshelves and making an optimum reading nook for the couple, which are obviously book fanatics. This part of the house, designed for guests and entertaining has a slightly more Kiwi feel about it

Murray Cockburn Partnership - Kohara Lodge

Murray Cockburn Partnership Kohara Lodge Of middle earth - Murray Cockburn has created a true hideaway. Kohara Lodge, of local schist stone and sedum roof, sits in quiet vigil above the Shotover river. Oh, and it's a holiday let. Overview Kohara Lodge has been built with environmental considerations in mind. The owners' main aim was to put the land back to the way it was once building had finished hence the design of the property incorporating the natural hillside, and re-planting the grounds with native New Zealand trees. The architect's vision was to replicate the natural environment as much as possible. To this end natural schist stone from a local quarry was used and this was dry laid as much as possible and dry stacked. Recycled railway timbers have been used on the outside of the property and there is no paint anywhere on the exterior of the house. The windows at Kohara Lodge all have Comfort glass to prevent glare and reflection, built in UV protection and double

Arthur Casas - House in Iporanga

Arthur Casas House in Iporanga Thanks to Arthur, Kelen and the team at Arthur Casas , I’ve received an early Christmas present to share with you all. The Immaculate “House in Iporanga” and a new addition to tags, Architect’s Own Houses. “I always wanted a house in the middle of the forest, in a place where I could relax and recharge my energy”, says Arthur. In the form of two large symmetrical cubes embracing an open space, this house was idealised as his dream house. Arthur’s aim was interiors in total synergy with exteriors. Bringing the outside in are 11 meter floor to ceiling glass windows, on both ends of the open central space. Cumaru wood paneling runs from top to bottom in an attempt to match and blend in with is beautiful surroundings “…as if this were ever 100% possible” admits Arthur. As the Cumaru extends into the house, sterile white stucco contrasts, highlighting the wood’s warm color. This simple brown and white palette provides a nice canvas for interesting/