House in São Paulo gets landscaping that simulates an Atlantic Forest reserve in the middle of the city

With landscaping by Rodrigo Oliveira, the 1,250 m² house is decorated with tropical species, restoring the local landscape and highlighting the architecture's characteristics

Located in the city of São Paulo, the land of the house designed by Isay Weinfeld has a steep slope that determined the distribution of the program over three levels. The landscaping, designed by Rodrigo Oliveira, aimed to recompose the landscape, camouflage the 4-meter-high wall and hide the neighbors, while allowing natural light into the intimate area. “The species were grown as adults, but the garden took shape over time,” he explains. The main entrance to the house is behind the swimming pool, where Rodrigo created a path surrounded by dense foliage, giving the outdoor area a natural feel. The green tiles and stones inserted in the garden make the pool mimic the bed of a lake.

The mixture of different species - heliconia, bromeliads and rounded philodendrons - has created a naturalistic garden, as if a bird had scattered the seeds throughout the yard, forming a native forest. Heading towards the house, the dense foliage opens onto a large lawn, used by the couple's children as a soccer field, which extends to the veranda, connected to the social area by the travertine floor and wooden ceiling. Above the pilotis, a solarium slab allows views of the city. On the opposite façade of the house, the landscaping is limited to a discreet hedge. With large glass panels, the house opens up to the São Paulo skyline.

Team:
Architects: Isay Weinfeld 
Project Team: Monica Cappa, Flavia Oide, Juliana Garcia, Alexandre Nobre, Gustavo Benthien 
Landscaping: Rodrigo Oliveira 
Photography: Felipe Araújo