TAU Arquitetos: Situated in a countryside São Paulo condominium, the Axial House embraces its corner lot and fosters a harmonious connection with the surroundings.
The irregular terrain shape guided the design axes, resulting in a three-story, 450m² residence. Upon entering, an internal open patio welcomes visitors, integrating the garden and filling the space with natural light. Carefully positioned after the entrance, the staircase leads to the intimate upper floor and the social areas on the first floor. The house takes advantage of small variations in the topography, offering transparency, luminosity, and picturesque views. The social programs, including the living room and kitchen, benefit from central patio visibility, while technical areas like the laundry and storage rooms, along with the garage, are located on the side façade facing the neighboring property. The outdoor area features a gourmet space and a pool surrounded by a flower bed, offering privacy from the street. The lower floor houses technical facilities and a service bathroom, accessible through this area.Additionally, a garden and fire area face the street. The upper floor stands out with its exposed concrete slabs and beams, complemented by a corten-colored metallic brise to regulate sunlight. This floor includes an intimate living room, guest bedroom, bathroom, and suite, with wellplaced openings allowing for cross-ventilation and reducing the need for air conditioning.Concrete takes center stage in the house, serving as the foundation of the building system and showcased as a visible finish on the first-floor pillars, slabs, and beams of the upper floor. The natural beauty of red Portuguese stone and cumaru wood further enriches the composition, fostering a harmonious integration between architecture and landscape.
How is the project unique?
The standout feature of the project is its unique implantation. The Axial House serves as an innovative example of building a residence on a corner lot, free from pre-established facades, thus fostering intriguing connections with its surroundings. Additionally, the project skillfully embraces the topography of the site, which boasts an 8-meter slope. Recognizing this context, one of the project's fundamental principles was to organize the program across three levels, ensuring optimal adaptation to the terrain and minimizing the need for extensive excavation and structural support.
What are the sustainability features?
The house was meticulously designed to prioritize sustainability by harnessing the power of natural elements. The strategic utilization of insolation and natural ventilation ensures that the reliance on air conditioning is minimized. This achievement is made possible through the implementation of cross-ventilation principles in every living space. The concept of thermal comfort is further enhanced by the incorporation of structural overhangs and sun shades, which effectively provide shading to the rooms.Moreover, the house boasts an impressive array of eco-friendly features. The roof have 20 photovoltaic panels that generate electricity, while four vacuum solar panels efficiently heat the water in the boiler. Embracing a responsible approach to water usage, all rainwater is captured and stored in a 10,000-liter cistern, which serves the garden's irrigation system.
Key products used:
The project utilizes a range of carefully selected materials. The structure of the house is entirely composed of reinforced concrete, featuring slatted finishes on pillar walls and slabs. Corten aluminum brise provides privacy to balconies and windows, while natural cumaru wood lines the social area, kitchen, and upper balconies. Portuguese stone defines the entrances, and porcelain tiles cover the floors and bathrooms. The pool plateau is adorned with a drainage pebble aggregate.
