The urban disorder perceived while walking along Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima gradually dissolves upon entering the adjacent residential streets. It is within this context of transition that Casa Prisma is located. The main façade draws little attention from those who pass quickly along the street, revealing only fragments of its multifaceted interior. There are a few clues to what awaits us: above, the hollow element in concrete blocks indicates that the house is composed of some surprise elements. The perception of the volumetry from the sidewalk is frugal, yet singular. This is due to the intentional staggering of volumes. In an urban setting marked by aggressive façades, the implantation of Casa Prisma, through non-architecture, seeks to create more complex and interesting intimate spaces, while preserving the urban horizon.
The first prism of the house appears already at the entrance, in a kind of spatial deviation from the slatted metal gate. The cutout invites the visitor to enter, guided by a reflecting pool, an element that brings movement and softens the rigidity of the honed basalt floor — the predominant stone in the house. Upon entering through the main door, the visitor is received by a gallery-corridor, which houses part of the owner’s art collection, a specialist in Fine Arts.
In this gallery, the first spatial distribution of the house is formed: on one side, the owner’s office, an isolated environment, yet belonging to the house, and on the other, the path continues toward the social areas. The gallery is also highlighted by a circular zenithal opening in the form of an inverted volcano, allowing natural light to enter during the day, and artificial light at night.
The large living room has a privileged view of the pool garden and a special, custom-made bar, composed of a play of glass and mirrors. This environment connects to the dining room through a see-through fireplace. It is also between these two social rooms that the main prism is positioned, one of the unexpected gardens of the house. These internal gardens allow light and ventilation to enter, as well as creating unexpected geometries, once again seeking architecture through the creation of voids, breaking with the rigidity and orthogonality of a conventional residential plan.
The leisure areas, such as the veranda, the gourmet area and the game room, are as
generous as the social areas. Isolated from one another, these large areas, however, are
externally connected by the pool garden. The support and service areas are easily
accessible and complete the uses of the ground floor.
A discreet staircase leads to the upper floor, where the family’s intimate areas are located. This floor, where a generous garden with Mexican references was also implemented, is partially rotated and set back in relation to the ground floor, providing the illusion of being on the ground. We thus return to the spaces resulting from the careful staggering of the volumetry of Casa Prisma.
As for materiality, in contrast with the honed basalt of the ground-floor flooring, the upper floor is dominated by light tones: the Tauari wood flooring and the furniture in washed Freijó create a light and welcoming atmosphere. The internal walls are white and smooth, while the external walls receive a textured finish, valuing the materiality of the architecture. The openings of the upper floor are reinterpreted on the ground floor, revealing new perspectives and promoting a play of light and geometries throughout the day that makes each environment unique. Like the natural light, the artificial lighting was designed by the studio, prioritizing, together with functionality, the enhancement of the volumetry of the spaces.
Finally, the curation of the furniture and works of art was carried out meticulously by the studio, in partnership with the owners, ensuring that the originality of Casa Prisma is manifested in every designed detail.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Location: São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Start: 2021
Completion: 2024
Built Area: 300m2
Architecture: Pascali Semerdjian Arquitetos
Architecture Team: Domingos Pascali, Sarkis Semerdjian, Fábio Rudnik, Rodrigo Guerra,
Suzana Knobel, Tali Liberman, Leopoldo Schettino, João Paulo Machado
Interiors: Pascali Semerdjian Arquitetos
Construction Company: Construmar Engenharia
Complementary Hydraulic and Electrical Projects: MVF Engenharia de Projetos S/C Ltda
Structural Project: Benedictis Engenharia
Air Conditioning: LogiProject
Automation: Futura
Marble Supplier: Euromarble
Woodwork: D’França Móveis
Glasswork: Vidros Queiroz
Landscaping: Renata Tilli
Window Frames: Lumisystem
Upholstery: Villa Remate
Curtains: Toque Final Cortinas
Furniture: Armchairs and living room sofa, coffee table, dining table and chairs Micasa
Rugs: Phenicia Concept
Photographer: Fran Parente
Website: https://psarquitetos.com
Instagram: @pascalisemerdjian
