The project was designed for a single father with three young children. The idea was to have a complete apartment on the upper floor and, on the lower floor, a great social area with a barbecue, dining table, sauna, pool, guest suite, and green area for contact with nature.

Spaces that were functional, clean and cozy. The program’s scope was broad and very important. The idea was for it to be an apartment for daily life, but a house for weekends and leisure time, with practicality and full use of the outdoor areas. The client loves cooking and entertaining, so the gourmet area had to be the heart of the home the place where everything happens.

The property is an apartment with a garden. When the owner acquired it, it was an unfinished apartment with a 140 m² lawn one level below the apartment. A major challenge was access to the outdoor area, which was previously only through a service door.
We demolished the service area and created a central corridor in front of the main entrance door, providing direct access to the outdoor space. In this area, we also managed to include a generous home office. The service area was relocated to the lower floor.

The decision to use a metal structure and Alwitra slab was mainly to achieve a lightweight structure with clean and fast execution. The Alwitra slab is thin and allows grass to be planted above it. In this way, we positioned the entire leisure area on the lower floor, while the upper part of this area was covered with grass, creating a garden space at the upper floor level (same level as the apartment).
At the center of the lower floor, where the gourmet area is located, a glass structure was installed to enhance integration with the outdoor space.
The lower floor houses, behind the stairs, the service area and service bedroom, the gourmet area, sauna and sauna bathroom, guest bedroom and bathroom (which, when the glass door is open, integrates with the gourmet area), the pool, deck, and also a garden area.

As the apartment was new, it was not necessary to replace electrical or plumbing materials, except for the lower floor, which was built from scratch.

The inspiration for the project was an urban retreat within São Paulo a place to host, relax, and breathe. A space to connect with the garden, encourage contemplation, and enjoy gastronomic gatherings. It allows for enjoyment both alone and in groups: the pool, sauna, and gourmet area. Guests can also be hosted comfortably in the guest bedroom.

The lower floor and access to it were definitely the starting point of the project. The program of requirements was extensive, and the main focus was to meet all the points in the best possible way. The client wanted something functional and modern, but at the same time a retreat, not concrete.

Defining the structure and construction method was a challenge, and we relied heavily on the engineering team for this. The gourmet area was positioned at the center of the space, with a glass roof and glass windows providing access to the pool, sauna, guest bedroom, stairs to the upper floor, and garden.
Along the side of the pool, we placed masonry benches covered with the same polished cement as the floor, complemented with futons and cushions, creating a relaxed and cozy atmosphere. 

Regarding the structure and construction method. Since there was a slab with a garage beneath the garden, there was a load limit for the outdoor slab.
The construction company helped us a lot in this regard, guiding the choice of a metal structure and Alwitra, which, besides being lightweight, is a clean and fast construction method.

To integrate the entrance hall with the outdoor area, we applied the same material to the hall wall and the access corridor: a beige-colored fulget. Upper floor flooring in Tauari wood parquet to provide visual warmth.
For the stairs and access to the lower floor: grooved deck for the outdoor area; on the lower floor we wanted a cool floor for easier maintenance. The idea was to walk wet across the entire lower area without worrying about anything. We chose polished cement for the lower floor and grooved wooden deck by the pool.
For the gourmet area wall, we wanted a material that made an impact, yet remained neutral: we decided on Portuguese stone in a mosaic pattern, similar to traditional sidewalks.

Team:
Architects: Carla Dichy

Landscape: Rodrigo Oliveira

Engineers: André Fogelman Engineering

Photographer: Marco Antonio

Materials Used:
Square table and chairs, TV stand - collectania 
Sofa - Decameron design 
Rectangular table and chairs - Fahrer Design 
Fulget - Casa Franceza 
lumini, Iluminação - Lighting
Picolo tapestry
Wooden floor - Müller Gasometer
Outdoor furniture - Mac Móveis
Lower floor
Sofa - a lot of Brasil 
Rug - by Kamy
Fireplace - ecofireplaces
Crockery and metals - Deca 
Pool chairs - L’ oeil