This urban house combines dark natural Brazilian hardwood, concrete and vernacular stonework in the open planned style that I love to see. Progressing up the house: stone, concrete framed and then totally wood clad forms are thoughtfully placed.
First up you'll note those fantastic spans and openings. Marcio pushes the boundaries with industrial size spans of pillarless windows all around. Forming the backbone, structurally and visually, of the house is a thick stone clad wall, perforated as well by large spans of glass. This seems to provide a divide between the outside and in, for a house that really opens up to its outside areas.
Entering on the more enclosed side of this wall, guests are no doubt ushered to the open plan living room upon arrival. Passing through the opening in that solid stone backbone they view the pool and deck area, a real summer entertaining spot. Shaded from the heat, guests can relax in this room which seems to be an open area, until you realise Marcio has hidden huge sliding glass doors into the far wall, which seal this area up in winter/at night.
With the lights of the big city in the distance, this house is a secure oasis for the resident family. Downstairs an open relaxed living area, and then through and further down the backbone, a formal dining room served by the kitchen hidden off the corridor with a snack room.
Upstairs, away from the buzz of guests, three children's rooms with en suites, a master bedroom and as all houses should have, two walk in wardrobes. I'm presuming that the smaller, forming a corridor to the first Master en suite, is for the working father. The second, a room larger than the kids bedrooms, I presume is for the lady of the house (my wife was very impressed!), and is separate from the second en suite and bath tub.
Rounding off the floors of the house is the home cinema room on the final floor, encased in that lovely hardwood, with views across to the city, reminding you of the action around, even in such comfortable surroundings.
And if it's all too much, dive into the pool or head across the deck to the sauna in the far right corner of the property.
Marcio Kogan
Born in 1952. Graduated from Mackenzie School of Architecture in 1976. Received an IAB award for the Rubens Sverner Day-Care Center in 1983, and in 1994 an award for the facade for the Larmod Store, organized by the Magazine of the newspaper Folha and CCSP (Creation Club of São Paulo). Realised an exhibit of small-scale models entitled “Architecture and Humor”, a critical view of the architectural and urbanistic problems of the city of São Paulo, which had great repercussions throughout the city. Participated in the IV Architecture Biennial with these projects: UMA Store, Strumpf Residence and the MRA-2 commercial building in 1999. Awarded Architectural Record House 2004 for Du Plessis Residence – Laranjeiras / Paraty / Brazil.
via: Marcio Kogan
