This address was designed to be a home in a gated community occupied mainly by leisure refuges, in the in- terior of São Paulo. The house sits on the contour lines of the plot like a pair of wings. “I remember having the first conversation with the clients and then taking a short flight. Right there, on the plane, I start designing the house and its layout,” explains the architect. Between beauty and form, Passarelli has balanced a horizontal and intriguing project where straight lines predominate. The few sinuous lines, however, have a striking presence and are surprising when they appear, as in the grand, sculptural staircase that stretches lazily over the first floor, and the circular swimming pool.

“I wanted the pool to be round, but the lower cavity was a consequence of the ter- rain. That’s when I decided to make the most of the trickle of water that overflowed and the little wet beach that emerged. Everything is covered in travertine, which is also the flooring of both the external and internal areas,” says Marcelo. While blending into the landscape, the house maintains its intimacy by means of its architectural features like its wide eaves, pergolas, and others.

The house’s main access is through a gallery that overlooks the social area, on the upper floor, which then leads to the private pavilion. By strolling down the wide staircase and discovering the different angles of the architecture and the garden you reach the ground floor. The spacious living room with high ceilings feels welcoming thanks to the wooden ceiling, the natural light, and the carefully chosen furniture by Lina Bo Bardi and the Campana Brothers, as well as the art collection with works by Osgemeos and Daniel Senise. “This house came when I was ready for it, it was a way of saying that I was mature as an architect”.