Integration and Uniqueness are Key Words in this Brazilian Villa!

SCK Arquitetura’ designed’ villa in Curitiba, Brazil, surpasses all possible connotations of the term ‘luxury’!

The design of Casa Guaimbê, as the home is christened, follows an L-shaped orthogonal volume that takes advantage of the sunniest orientation to enhance the views of the private garden as well as the city, whilst guaranteeing privacy for the house.

Prioritising the establishment of a tectonic relationship with the place, the axis created from the main facade runs through the kitchen, dining room, living room and home theatre. With an extensive program of leisure areas, the main volume expands into the land and divides the gourmet space, which runs through the garden and pool. Aligned with the void of the pool is a small pavilion of the residents’ private gym. Sliding and transparent glass planes outlined by a minimalist frame contribute to re-signifying concepts of “inside” and “outside”. In particular, the social area of the residence offers a spectacular view of the garden.

The distribution of the flow of the social and intimate spaces is marked by a sculptural staircase, which allows access from the upper volume to the lower hall. On the upper floor, the guest bedroom and cinema on one side connect by a walkway that runs through the ground floor void, to the son’s suites and master suite. One of the highlights is the dramatic balance created by the volume where the main suite of the residence is located, which advances over the land and is accentuated by the extension of the eaves.

Built on a root stake foundation, the house’s structural system follows slabs and concrete beam construction with masonry walls, where large spans and cantilevers are made possible by using prestressed slabs like that of the main suite. The external brickwork facing is treated as a ventilated façade with marble finishing fixed by metallic inserts. This solution provides more thermic comfort for the interiors, avoiding cracks and infiltrations. Inside walls are built either in drywall or in brickwork. Several of them contain pillars and play a structure mainly those that are closer to large wide frames. The flaps, one of the focal points of the project, are structured for metal triangular parts fixed in the main structure.

Indeed, it is important to emphasise the refined plastic treatment given to the panels that cover almost all the glass planes on the second floor. Muxarabi panels cover some of the glass planes, moulded by a mesh with a modular design, working as light filters and offering privacy for intimate areas. This solution allows adequate control of natural lighting, in addition to providing dynamism, versatility, and uniqueness to the composition of the facade.

The silver travertine marble, lining, and freijó wood panels are the base materials that provide unity to the material palette. Besides, wood plays a leading role, allowing the configuration of a contemporary spatial concept. The area around the pool has been paved with cement boards between grass spaces.

In addition to the solar orientation, orthogonal organisation, ventilated façade design, and the eaves, photovoltaic panels, storage batteries, and charging stations for electric vehicles, make this a sustainable enterprise.

Details
Project Name: Casa Guaimbê
Typology: Residential Architecture & Interiors
Architect Firm: SCK Architects, Brazil
Principal Architect:
Project Team: Eliza Schuchovski, Juliana Freitas, Júlia Sampaio, Isabella Borsato e Natália Cunha Project size: 1211 sq. m.
Site size: 1409 sq. m.
Building levels: 3
Location: Curitiba, State of Paraná, Brazil
Photography credits: Eduardo Macarios 
Published with BowerBird 
Compiled by Teresa Simon