Exterior of the building rodrigo © Simão Arquitetura
The house has been created as a platform suitable for contemplation, and the wide opening facing the woods provides both excellent views for residents and also introduces plenty of light into the interior spaces to adapt to the mountain climate.
A house conceived as a contemplation platform, wide open to the views and to maximize sunlight, so vital in a mountain climate.
The entire room is suspended above the ground floor and is protected by a wide cantilevered roof. The slate vestibule that connects the indoor and outdoor spaces has a drainage function, allowing the house to stay away from moisture in a rain-intensive environment.
The whole house develops in one level, suspended from the ground, protected by a generous overhanging roof, accessed through a stone floor forecourt, avoiding rain water, so intense in the region, keeping the house free from moisture.
Living room © Rodrigo Simão Arquitetura
The steel structure allows the span to reach, for example, 8,40 m, thus allowing open windows (up to 60% of the span), creating an open space for dialogue with the garden and the beautiful landscape of the area.
The steel structure made possible spans such as 8,40m, allowing wide opening windows (up to 60% of the span), creating open spaces in dialogue with the garden and the beautiful landscape of the region.
Similarly, the living room and kitchen are combined with a wood oven to help improve the thermal function of the house, while the large dining hall extends the pleasure of cooking and the aftertaste on the dining table to the rest of the house.
In the same way, living room and kitchen are integrated with the wood oven contributing to the thermal functionality of the house and the big refectory table extending the pleasure of cooking and being at the table to the rest of the house.
The floors of most houses are concrete polished from the floor slabs themselves. Polishing is carried out in the form of concrete pouring - usually used in industry and gas stations, because of its high impact and wear resistance, and the surface is smooth and hygienic.
The flooring in most of the house is polished concrete, from the slab itself. Polished in the act of concreting - usually used in industries and gas stations because of its high impact and abrasion resistance, has smooth and hygienic finish.
In addition to being a very long-term low-cost solution, this option can also provide significant savings in the construction phase and cost of materials.
This option results in a huge economy of construction phases and materials, besides being an extremely perennial low cost solution.
Built by a financing scheme by CEF (CaixaEconômica Federal), architects, engineers and construction companies were hired by a couple who personally managed the construction process.
Built through a CEF (Caixa Econômica Federal) financing program, by a couple who personally managed the construction process, hiring an architect, an engineer and a construction firm.
Optimization and feasibility are the focus of the design without compromising the quality and perenniality of the décor.
Optimization and feasibility where a central focus of the design, without compromising the quality of the finishings and perenniality.
The concept of open space, the use of materials in natural forms and the concept of integration with nature aims to inspire a simple and functional and integrated lifestyle of the family.
The concepts of an open space, the use of materials in their natural form and integration with nature seek to inspire in the family simplicity and a functional and integrated lifestyle
Economy and optimization of the construction phase:
Economy and optimization of construction phases:
Economic and optimisation measures during the construction phase include reducing finishes and stuccoing by setting up laminated steel structures. The 40 mm thick brazier (Brasilit) is laid under the shingled roof, eliminating the need to cover the ceiling, rent scaffolding and install ceiling finishes, and only one layer of resin is applied after the actual installation is completed. The programme is also effective in preventing ants, raccoons, birds and spiders from staying and inhabiting gaps in the roof. This material is also used in the table countertops.
The thick cement walls are covered with a thin layer of acrylic plastic finish that is polished and sealed to create a smooth texture while showing subtle sand marks. This handmade finish subtly echoes the surrounding country houses, giving a more human experience to homes filled with industrial materials such as concrete, aluminum and steel. The exposed concrete walls of the living room mimic the texture of the planks, saving on the one hand the finish and, on the other hand, giving the space a warm atmosphere like wood.
Deploying laminated steel structure reduced finishings to painting. Deploying 40mm thermo-acoustic Masterboard panels(Brasilit) as a surface for the shingle roof- eliminated many construction services like ceillig recess, scaffolding rental, ceiling finishings, getting practically done when put in place, receiving just a second resin layer in the internal part when put in place.
This compact 40mm solution is also very efficient against animals that usually settle in roof’s empty spaces, like ants, raccons, birds, spiders, etc.
The dining table top, measuring 3,05x1,20x0,04m, is also made from a single board of this material that compound the roof.
The masonry finishings is a result of a thin single layer of acryilic plaster over a thick ready to use cement mass, that is sanded and sealed, creating a smooth texture but with nuances of sanding. This handmade finishing subtly echoes rustic countryside houses, contributing to the humanization of the space where there is a lot of presence of industrial materials like concrete, alumminum, steel. The exposed concrete thick wall in the living room revealing the wood formwork, eliminates finishings, and even being a cold material, it humanizes the space with its handcrafted aspect, resembling wood.
External spatial structure © Rodrigo Simão Arquitetura
Efficient design/sustainability
The large glass openings face the landscape, maximizing north and northeast, increasing thermal comfort and contributing to a healthier breathing environment. In the room, the aluminum frame and 6mm of ordinary glass can be opened to the field of view and have a high cost/permanent/performance ratio.
The use of thermodynamic motherboards in the ceiling and natural cross ventilation reduces the future cost of heating or air conditioning.
Varanda raises the shape of the roof in the living room, and when the Varanda doors open, the roof promotes thermal convection. If it is necessary to stay warm (as is often the case), you can simply keep these doors closed.
Efficient Design / Sustainability
Large glass openings, turned towards the landscape, to north and northeast maximize direct, that contributes to thermal comfort and to a healthier environment to breathe. In the rooms, alumminum frames with 6mm common glass are wide opened to the views and have a great cost/perreniality/performance ratio.
Thermo-acoustic Masterboard panels used in the ceiling and natural crossed ventilation reduce future cost with heating or air-conditiong.
The shape of the roof gets higher in the living room, by the varanda, promoting thermal convection when the varanda doors are opened. If it is necessary to keep the warmth(frequently it is), it is just necessary to keep these doors closed.
Passability
The entire house develops as a platform on a single level with low thresholds and no stairs
Acessbility:
The whole house develops in one single level, as a platform, with low thresholds and no stairs
Front view © Rodrigo Simão Arquitetura
Rear view © Rodrigo Simão Arquitetura
Hand-drawn sketch © Rodrigo Simão Arquitetura
Design drawing © Rodrigo Simão Arquitetura
Project information
Project Name: Águas Claras Residence
Project Address: Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Building area: 157,83㎡
Designed by Rodrigo Simão Arquitetura
Completion: 2015