In the Casa Jardim Renovation, preservation became the project’s main design strategy. The starting point was a principle that guides much of Baixo Impacto Arquitetura’s work: the most sustainable building is often the one that already exists. Rather than rebuilding or erasing the character of the original house, the renovation sought to understand its qualities, extend the life of its materials, and adapt its spaces to the family’s changing routines.
Located in Florianópolis, in southern Brazil, the 237-square-meter residence faces a permanently protected fragment of the Atlantic Forest. Native species, including the juçara palm, and the frequent presence of birds make the landscape part of everyday life. This relationship with the surrounding vegetation became one of the project’s main sources of inspiration. The intention was not simply to frame the forest as a distant view, but to bring it closer to the daily experience of living in the house.
Originally designed by architects Marcos Frugoli and Daniela Leindecker, the residence already possessed strong spatial and construction qualities. This created one of the project’s central challenges: how to transform a house with an established architectural identity without diminishing what made it valuable. The renovation therefore began before the first drawings, with a detailed inventory of the existing building. Doors, window frames, countertops, timber elements, and spatial relationships were carefully assessed to determine what should remain, what could be restored, and what truly needed to change.
This process reduced demolition and construction waste while preserving the material and emotional memory of the house. Reuse was not treated as an isolated environmental gesture, but as a design method capable of guiding the entire intervention.
The main transformation took place in the shared living areas. An underused room between the kitchen and the veranda interrupted the relationship between the interior spaces and the garden. By reorganizing this area, the project connected the kitchen, dining room, living room, and outdoor space in a continuous sequence.
Cooking is an important part of the family’s routine, and the new layout places it at the center of collective life. The kitchen is no longer separated from those arriving, talking, eating, or spending time outdoors. It becomes part of a larger social space, strengthening the relationship between everyday activities and the architecture.
The veranda, previously used mainly for circulation, was enlarged and transformed into a place to stay. A hammock, new seating areas, and a closer connection with the vegetation allow the Atlantic Forest to become more than the backdrop of the house. It now participates directly in the family’s daily life.
Natural light was treated as one of the project’s main materials. Reusing the original front door in a new configuration increased the amount of northern light entering the house. Removing the former barbecue structure allowed morning light to reach the kitchen and dining area, while the reorganization of openings improved cross-ventilation and reinforced the visual continuity between indoors and outdoors. These relatively small interventions reduced the need for artificial lighting during the day and improved the environmental comfort of the living spaces.
The structural changes were minimal and precise. A concrete column was locally replaced with a timber element, while the former barbecue area gave way to an outdoor countertop made of cement and Brazilian cedar. The original kitchen countertop was retained, and existing elements—including the front door, window frames, and a carefully restored canela-preta timber coffee counter—were incorporated into the new design.
The material palette reinforces the continuity between the existing house and the new intervention. Mineral paints in clay tones, sage-green furniture, and restored timber establish a subtle dialogue with the surrounding vegetation. The lighting design complements the abundant daylight and contributes to the warm atmosphere of the interiors without competing with the architecture.
Completed in 2025, the Casa Jardim Renovation demonstrates that transforming a house does not necessarily mean reconstructing it. Its unique character comes from a series of careful, interconnected decisions: preserving the original architecture, reorganizing daily life, introducing more natural light and ventilation, restoring existing materials, and strengthening the relationship with the Atlantic Forest.
More than creating a new house, the project continues the story of the one that was already there. It proposes sustainability through permanence, memory, and care—showing how an existing building can evolve while preserving its identity.
