Studio Guilherme Torres

Parallel House

PARALLEL HOUSE

Studio Guilherme Torres

Parallel House
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio

LANDSCAPING
Alex Hanazaki

MANUFACTURERS
Arte Aplicada, Dpot, Loja Teo, Marché Art de Vie, Nos Furniture, Papel Assinado, Square Foot, Vitra Ronan & Erwan Bourollec

AREA
4983 ft²

YEAR
2018

LOCATION
São Paulo, Brazil

CATEGORY
Houses

Parallel House
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio

Text description provided by architect.

Guilherme Torres accompanied the young couple from the purchase of the lot - a 463m2 house, built in the 80’s at the heart of a traditional neighbourhood of São Paulo - to the final steps in the remodelling of the house.

The desire of the future inhabitants of the house was to adapt the architecture of the house to their lifestyle, bearing in mind the coming of children.

The residence had the ideal program for the family, but in the form of a totally compartmentalised floor plan.

Parallel House
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio
Parallel House
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio
Parallel House
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio

The architect opted to increase the empty spans and integrate the spaces.

From the get go it was decided to utilize whatever was possible of the existing building.

The wooden frames on the windows, for instance, are original and were properly treated and painted.

Parallel House
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio
Parallel House
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio
Parallel House
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio

The most radical intervention took place on the lower level.

The old game room was integrated into the porch, creating a full living area, with a big dinner table and other furniture, all built out of concrete.

This decision spared resources, but also imparted great monumentality and scale to the house.

Parallel House
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio
Parallel House
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio
Parallel House
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio

The original ceilings were made of wood and were very low, but demolition revealed a beautiful concrete beam structure.

From this element, a sequence of pillars was created embracing the whole external area of the building, creating a very special geometry and giving its name, Parallel House.

Parallel House
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio
Parallel House
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio

Another signature of the architect was the use of few materials in the finishings. In this house all of the flooring is made in semi-polished white granite, including the pool.

The painting done in polymeric cement renewed the structures in exposed concrete, and the steel bands that embrace the external design were painted in a graphite tone.

Parallel House
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio
Parallel House
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio

The highlight of the leisure area is the landscaping, designed by Alex Hanazaki - a close friend of the couple and Guilhermes. “We work very much in tune with each other, which is very clear in this house.

The landscaping only employed three species, since the goal was to enhance and harmonize with the architecture”, said Guilherme.

Parallel House
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio
Parallel House
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio

In the living room area, spaces that were previously poorly lit received ample natural light after the removal of the wooden ceiling.

Both the furniture and interior design are signed by Guilherme.

Parallel House
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio
Parallel House
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio

The biggest surprise came during moving: the owner found out that she was pregnant with twins! And in the funny way fate works, the children were born at the day of the shooting. Synchronicity from beginning to end!


Parallel House
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio
Parallel House
© Denilson Machado – MCA Estúdio


Parallel House
Perspective cut
Parallel House
Perspective


Parallel House
Inferior Floor Plan
Parallel House
Ground Floor Plan
Parallel House
Superior Floor Plan
Parallel House
Diagram


Parallel House
Sectoral cut
Parallel House
Frontal

Studio Guilherme Torres
T +55 11 30643369 M +55 11 987050208
Studio Guilherme Torres
R. João Moura, 112 - Jardins, São Paulo - SP, 05412-000, Brazil