Cidade Jardim Residence

Perfect balance between architecture and greenery, building and nature

In a 1200 sqm site with a noticeable declivity, Cidade Jardim Residence was designed to provide its residents with a calm hideaway spot in the middle of São Paulo’s urban chaos. The designers applied solutions typically found in country houses, especially the important connection between the house’s volumetry and the garden – which happened to be an important agent in this project’s conception.

The residence is divided in two well-defined volumes. The first one, located at the ground floor, holds all the common use areas, such as dining and living room, kitchen, grill, pool and, of course, the vast garden. The second volume, placed transversally above the first one includes the intimate areas such as rooms and suites. The second volume’s main façade faces East, receiving the morning sunlight, fundamental for the residents’ well-being. To characterize this façade’s dynamic was also a primordial need in the designing process. Wooded panels were placed to allow complete opening (and, consequently, the connection with the exterior’s nature) or closing (securing privacy).

Speaking of privacy, the program’s distribution on the site was extremely important. The car and guests’ entrance are located at the house’s basement, directly connected to the street. The ground floor, located above the basement, is at 3 meters from the street’s level. This strategy reduced a few inconveniences, such as noises, pollution or even the need for big security walls. Therefore, to enter the home, the guests must climb a staircase that leads them to the main entrance at the ground floor, were they will find the guest reception room and the staircase that leads to the intimate pavilion. The staircase is one of the design’s highlights, since it combines metallic structure and wooded steps, in addition to a concrete hollow brick wall that allow the entrance of natural lighting.

Materials used in this project were mainly wood and slatted concrete, along with white plaster and soapstone. The intention was to combine features from a cozy, warm and pleasant environment without losing the sophistication and elegance proposed by the volumes.