spbr builds 'casa fim de semana' between garden and pool

sao paulo-based studio spbr arquitetos revisited the built hierarchy of garden, pool, and home with the ‘casa fim de semana’ (weekend house) located in the same city. typically, the garden and pool levels exist on the ground floor as that’s where these objects typically exist in the natural world. for the weekend house, this order was reorganized upon the thought that water belongs just as much on the ground as it does in the sky.

main area of the home is located in the air, above the garden and below the pool
image © nelson kon (also main image), all images courtesy of spbr architects

the ground level therefore contains a large garden that serves as the base for the concrete structure that is floated above, allowing light to reach areas of the site that may have been previously covered by a structure for years. the home is situated in the air, enjoying all the sunlight and views, minimizing its connection to the ground. avoiding a single mass, the compartmentalized structure allows light to all spaces in the home. the pool has been elevated to the rooftop, crowning the entire project 6 meters in the air complemented by a solarium.

image © nelson kon

large glass walls open the interior to the exterior gardens
image © nelson kon

light can now reach the ground level allowing the ground to be overgrown with vegetation
image © nelson kon

rooftop swimming pool
image © nelson kon

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project info:

name: weekend house in downtown são paulo
location: são paulo, brazil
design year: 2010
construction: 2011
architectural firm: spbr arquitetos
principal in charge: angelo bucci
project team: ciro miguel, juliana braga,     joão paulo meirelles de faria,     tatiana ozzetti, eric ennser, nilton suenaga
client: gloria kalil / sergio cardoso
structural engineer: ibsen puleo uvo
foundation engineer: josé luiz de paula eduardo-apoio assessoria e projeto de fundações s/s ltda.
geo-technical investigation: engesolos engenharia de solos e fundações ltda.
landscape architect: raul pereira
mechanical engineer: jpd
structural system: reinforced concrete
major materials: concrete and glass
site area: 265,00 m2
total floor area: 165,20  m2
photos: nelson kon