Itu House

The renovation project for a residence located in the Terras de São José condominium in Itu stemmed from the desire of a couple with two children to spend more time with friends and family away from the frenetic pace of São Paulo. The house, acquired by the family, had its living area redesigned through a precise and materially rich intervention, resulting in a spacious, cozy, and sophisticated environment.

The house's L-shaped layout allows for different uses of the surrounding gardens. The swimming pool is located in the central garden, with access to the main level of the house 6.5 meters above street level. Next to the pool is the gourmet veranda, which serves as the entrance to the residence and welcomes visitors with a cozy atmosphere, given the prominent presence of wood in the ceiling and in the furniture carefully selected by the project's architects.

The continuation of the wooden ceiling into the interior of the residence marks the social axis of the house and connects the central garden with the rear garden, the latter being more intimate, where the jacuzzi and hammock area are located.

The wooden ceiling gains height in the living and dining room by simulating the slope of a gable roof. The difference in ceiling height offers spatial variation within the same large space. The layout contributes to the fact that, although the space is unified, it has different uses, such as a reading area and a TV room.

The social area also separates the bedrooms from the guest bedrooms, located in the west wing of the residence, while the family occupies the east wing, thus ensuring privacy for both.

Nominated for the 2025 ArchDaily Building of the Year Award

Team: Fernanda Neiva and Ana Terra Capobianco (authors), André Bras, Marina Carvalho and Paola Ornaghi (team)

Photos: Manuel Sá