ArchShowcase Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. AA House in São Paulo, Brazil by Argus CarusoDecember 13th, 2019 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Argus Caruso Located in the middle of the Atlantic Forest, on Itamambuca beach, in the north coast of São Paulo, the house was conceived to provide comfort in a warm summer while optimizing the light from the North face during cold winters.
The house was built from natural materials such as bamboo, earth, natural fiber, and wood. The structure is made of treated Eucalyptus and Pinus, both cultivated nearby. All materials were used 100%, and so far the work has not generated any waste. The ceilings are green, with rainwater catchment. The living area offers views of the beautiful mountains, and the indoors open onto the side gardens. The house was born from the dream of two siblings, an artist and producer from São Paulo and the architect, who lives in Itamambuca and monitors the house on a daily basis. Insolation The living room / kitchen is fully shaded in the summer. In the winter, the sun rays penetrate deep into the house. The windows and high ceilings allow for the sun to cover most of the living room / kitchen. The concrete suspended floor and the earth wall absorbs this heat during the day and radiates it at night. The surrounding vegetation offers shelter from the late afternoon sun during the summer. The insolation was simulated by means of an electronic model, making it possible to project the upper windows on the north side of the rooms so that during the winter the sun beam hits the beds most of the time, keeping them dry and warm. The light color of the floor bounces off the sunlight, making an extra contribution to lighting. Ventilation – Natural Air Conditioning In the living room / kitchen, a forced circulation pulls the outside air (from the shady garden of Lilies), causes it to pass under the house and climb through pipes embedded in the central wall, being already inflated fresh into the environment, functioning as an air conditioner. The high ceilings favors the circulation of air. The sloping roof generates a steady flow of warm air coming out of the ridge and naturally coming in from the opposite side, coming from the south windows, receiving fresh air from the garden shades. Earth Walls The earth material makes the house breathe. Given the high humidity characteristic of the region, this material could not be better. There were several techniques employed – the foundation of the slab is in hyperadobe, the walls in general are in cob on posts and a structural wall is in rammed earth. The main concern was to build a house with natural materials, when possible from the surroundings, but with a fine finish. The perfectly straight and smooth walls break the paradigm that an earth house is always crooked or badly finished. Contact Argus Caruso
Categories: House, Residential |