Plana Casa

The residence located in the Porto Feliz municipality of São Paulo state, is a radical exercise in horizontality, as it is inserted in the highest point of the plot, like an extensive line in an open landscape.

Favouring the existing topography, the building presence is most strongly felt in the footprint rather than volumetrically. Special attention was given to the design of the rooftop, effectively the fifth façade of the building, with the composition and selection of equipment to be placed there, such as solar panels and skylights. The green roof mimics the surrounding lawn as well as contributes to the thermal comfort in the house.

Structurally, the slab is a rigid platform that is not supported by beams but directly by the pillars, which are distributed modularly in three axes. The cross-shaped metallic pillars are a homage to the elegant proportions of miesian architecture. Under the roof there are two programmatic boxes, the first one with the service areas, gym, tv and playrooms and the second one with the five en-suite bedrooms.

The living rooms are located at the extremities and can be completely opened via sliding glass doors transforming the entire house into a terrace. The interior is characterized by low and solid wood furniture and the layout of spaces leaves enough space for free circulation between the furniture and the panels and allows for an individualized reading of each piece. A translucent multi-coloured club-chair hanging from the slab becomes the focus of attention and contrasts with the horizontality of the house.

Surrounding the rigid formal distribution, there is a vertical winding wall made of solid bricks arranged in solids and voids. Paradoxically, it defines the different relationships between the internal and external spaces. The wall, usually a symbol of division and isolation, in this project, is at times concave and at others convex, embracing the entrance garden and creating transparencies as well as offering protection from the street. Its brick texture contributes to a cosy atmosphere and creates light filters with kinetic effects as the day passes.

Marcio Kogan – STUDIO MK27