HOUSE TOCA
Arkitito Arquitetura
ARCHITECTS
Arkitito Arquitetura
LEAD ARCHITECT
Tito Ficarelli, Chantal Ficarelli
ARCHITECT
Claudia Piaia
EXTERNAL WALL PANEL AND GRANITE FLOOR
Luiza Gottschalk
TIMBER ENGINEERING
Crosslam
STRUCTURAL DESIGN
3tx
MANUFACTURERS
Braston, Cebrace, Coral Tintas, Crosslam, Docol, Gerdau, IKO, Tigre, Votorantim
CONSTRUCTION TEAM
Domeng Engenharia
PHOTOGRAPHS
Fran Parente
AREA
350 m²
YEAR
2022
LOCATION
Vila Madalena, Brazil
CATEGORY
Houses
English description provided by the architects.
Going against the grain of a traditional residence, Casa Toca emerges from a diverse program that includes domestic spaces, an art studio, a music studio, and areas for gatherings — reflecting the lifestyle of its residents, architect Tito Ficarelli and visual artist Luiza Gottschalk, who are also responsible for the design.
This is the third home conceived and built by the couple for different stages of their life together.
With striking geometry, the house combines simple shapes — triangles, squares, and circles — to create interior spaces that evoke distinct sensations as intended.
Its form appears almost raw, sculpted over slender pillars, yet conveying an overall sense of lightness.
In addition to the couple, the house is inhabited by their two daughters, aged 9 and 13, and an 80-year-old woman who recently joined the family.
To accommodate the complexity of the program and organize it with a focus on accessibility and comfort — thermal, acoustic, and visual — the construction was developed in three layers:
The base, made of concrete, houses the three bedrooms, protected by the rear garden where noise levels are lower.
The second layer, built in steel, is a grid that supports the main floors. The third layer, which contains the living room, kitchen, studio, and music space, was built in cross-laminated timber (CLT).
The enclosures are made of glass frames, while the entire triangular shell — roof and side façades — is clad with shingle tiles.
The structural solutions and choice of materials prioritize environmental efficiency and climatic performance, ensuring thermal and acoustic insulation.
The use of prefabricated components simplifies assembly, creating a clean construction site while reducing material waste, water and energy consumption, and overall building time and debris. The living room floor features Brazilian stone, forming a continuous pattern throughout the space.
The varying ceiling heights make the house feel perpetually open — like a veranda integrated with the gardens. This approach maximizes natural light and ventilation, eliminating the need for air conditioning.
