Brazil-based firm Meireles+Pavan Arquitetura has completed a residence in the city of São Paulo that has been structured as a diverse assortment of sensorial experiences. Featuring surfaces clad in Carrara marble and polished concrete, complemented by systems of wooden shutters, Casa Turquia is settled in the upscale neighbourhood of Jardim Europa, in the Pinheiros district of western São Paulo. Through a restrained use of colour and texture, coupled with strong, clean lines and dynamic shifts in spatial volume, the architects have crafted an abode that revels in an abundance of light and serenity.

The home’s façade design reveals little to the outside, exhibiting a somewhat minimalist aesthetic composed of two rectilinear volumes dressed in contrasting material palettes. While the upper block features rippling surfaces of Carrara marble bordering a sequence of shuttered openings, the edifice below has been given a more plain finish. A low-ceiling entrance hall sets the tone for the journey through the residence's design, expanding into an enormous double height living space that typifies the dramatic shifts in spatiality seen throughout the project. Suspended above is a roof dressed in Carrara marble, transitioning into a pure white ceiling held aloft by massive cylindrical columns.

Retractable glass windows, spanning the width and height of the living area, serve to segregate and illuminate the interior as and when necessary. From here, the layout flows into an outdoor social area featuring lounges, parasols, and sun beds, arranged around a large stone pool. At the rear of the site beyond the pool area is a pavilion-like structure housing a sauna and gym which are illuminated by the reflection of the water which hosts fish, turtles, and aquatic plants, as mentioned by the architects. In fact, the landscape design of the entire site has been configured to break the monotony of marble and concrete, with many of the social areas overlooking pockets of lush vegetation.

As per the architects, the residence's main circulation stream exploits this 'funnelled' spatial choreography, particularly in the staircase leading into the underground garage and game room, which gradually opens up into a space showered with light by an ocular opening in its ceiling. Most of the auxiliary areas including two additional suites, a laundry room, storage area, and a home theatre, have been placed on this basement level.

Frameless glass railings are a staple feature of the residence, accentuating the sense of lightness and delicacy that pervades the interior design. This is especially evident in the internal staircase which infuses a cold, machine-like contrast to the wood-finished walls flanking it. The space’s grey enclosing surfaces are decorated with elements that exhibit a play between recess and relief, punctuated by flashes of green creepers along their edges. On the first floor, two mirrored suites occupy much of the functional area, with a similar layout followed on the next level - save for the addition of a huge master suite equipped with a study and large walk-in closet.

The residence's relatively muted palette uses Carrara marble as its focal point, with all other textures including wood, concrete, and stone serving to complement its veiny and delicate, yet surprisingly imposing materiality. By deftly exploiting contrasts in spatial perception, Meireles+Pavan Arquitetura has crafted a true sensorial feast that promises to awe and astound any and all visitors to walk through the halls of Casa Turquia.

Project Details

Name: Casa Turquia
Location: São Paulo, Brazil
Gross built area: 1,750 sqm
Architect: Meireles+Pavan Arquitetura
Lead Architects: Brunno Meireles and André Pavan
Interior Design: Porus Arquitetura, Marilia Pellegrini Arquitetura
Engineering: Marlos Mangini
Landscaping: Daniel Nunes
Consultants: Fairbanks, Cateo Engenharia