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| Link to Article: Arthur Casas – House in Iporanga |
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2008-01-23T17:09:00 - The Cool Hunter |
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An architect’s house could be his ultimate expression of his relationship to the surrounding world. Arthur Casas (http://www.arthurcasas.com.br/) positioned
his own House in Iporanga outside of Sao Paulo deep in the Atlantic
forest — the quintessential Brazilian landscape according to Casas.
Two symmetrical rectangular cubes face one another on the north and
south sides of the site. Two retractable 36 foot-high glass walls
connect the cubes and frame the main living and dining rooms of the
house. The entire exterior is paneled in Cumaru wood that blends
effortlessly into the surrounding forest.
Cumaru is also used inside as flooring where it stands out against
the stark white walls – the only “color” found in the minimalist space.
To an architect, one of the defining features of the overall design of
a structure is effective interior spatial division. In his own house,
Casas successfully divided the ground floor into distinct public and
private areas. The kitchen and service area — including a separate
bedroom and bathroom — were placed in the north cube structure. A
studio and a guest bedroom and bathroom are located on the opposite
side. The entire space is connected by the vast living room flanked by
wood terraces on both ends. An infinity pool appears to be spilling
over to soak the surrounding flora.
A floating Cumaru stairway leads to the first level, where one
finds the master suite in the southern cube. A narrow bridge crosses
over the middle of the living room and leads to an additional guest
bedroom, bathroom and a home theater.
The main objective of Casas’s design brief for the House in Iporanga
was to provide an escape into the Brazilian forest. He has accomplished
the creation of a personal retreat, a place where he is able to relax
and recharge. By Andrew J Wiener.
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