Casa Brisa

Fábio Júnior Severo

• Architects

Architect prioritizes respect for the history of each environment to design unique spaces

Whether through the preservation of a building or through the sentimental value of objects that represent loved ones, architect Gabriel Bordin, from Florianópolis, in southern Brazil, values roots in his projects

photo_credit Fábio Júnior Severo — Fábio Júnior Severo

Each building, each environment, and each project has countless stories, whether individual or from entire communities. Knowing this and always attentive to the potential for transformation in each space, Santa Catarina architect Gabriel Bordin has increasingly highlighted the proposal to preserve the cultural heritage of areas and designs.

An example of this was applied by the professional in the "Casa Brisa" project, located in the building that housed one of the most traditional hotels in the capital of Santa Catarina, the former Maria do Mar. The space invites visitors to feel the sea breeze on their skin in an environment full of lightness. Bordin managed to transform an old boathouse into a unique environment that, above all, keeps the history of the place alive.

With an area of 73.80m² and an "L" shaped plan, the original construction was preserved, and the exterior was covered in white wood, from the walls to the roof, giving it a more homogeneous, robust look highlighting the most charming features. Of what the "fisherman's ranch" was. (Please take a look at the images of the floor plan).

"The house was enveloped to protect the original construction, creating a 'lung' between the wooden cladding and the walls of the old ranch. We managed to keep the brands present in the structure of the place, valuing the heritage of the space and letting them tell in a poetic way the entire history lived there", explains Bordin.

According to the architect, it is a house energized by the sea, the wind, and the sunset path. "The 'L'-shaped plant lies on the ground like a living, lazy and calm being, like a gentle, active and zealous breeze and our role, as architects, is to recognize these characteristics, preserving history and highlighting its potential" , highlights.

All the materials used in this project are natural: wood, stone, cotton, and linen give an organic and cozy tone to the environment that has a social area that leads to the beach, with a view of the sea framed by the living room window, with 3 x 2.10 meters high. The Brazilian design pieces are organized around the living canvas. With no doors or walls between spaces, Bordin's concept brings the sea breeze through the fluid and integrated plan.

In the kitchen, a massive marble countertop also alludes to the heritage of regional architecture, with rounded finishes without sharp corners, which extends and meets the dining table, proposing a linear configuration where the living and dining uses complement each other.

The separation between the living room and the bedroom is due to the difference in levels and the change in the floor covering, which features a white solid wood floor as opposed to the Caxambu stone slab in the dining, living, and kitchen areas.

Another element that divides these spaces is the Brisa screen, designed by the author. The piece is a grid of wood and glass, and inside each frame, some watercolors illustrate different types of shells by the Santa Catarina artist Nestor Jr.The room with a view of the immense root of the century-old tree in the garden brings yet another characteristic of "Casa Brisa," which alludes to the roots in its architecture and details. Speaking of roots, another characteristic of the professional is the use of objects full of history that add sentimental value to environments, such as a table clock that belonged to his grandmother and is always present in his projects at exhibitions. "These pieces, as well as the period armchairs in the living room, created by the architect Jorge Zalszupin and Joaquim Tenreiro, bring soul to the space, pieces full of experience and history, which bring back references to design and culture from the past," highlights Bordin.

Still in the bedroom, the "Sailboat Bed" awakens the nautical imagination and was designed exclusively by Studio Gabriel Bordin. Another distinguishing feature of the project is integrating the bathroom area with the bedroom, divided by translucent curtains that give access to the bathtub, external and integrated into the landscaping, for a moment of relaxation in the open air.