Cobogó House is an oasis in the dense urban fabric of Sao Paolo. Light, and the infinite variations of light, are the hallmark of the building’s design, arising from the way the interiors flow effortlessly onto the exterior. Marcio Kogan’s programme lays out a series of simple volumes: two blocks at right angles to each other - one, a 3-storey unit, the other, just one level. Vertical circulation routes are located at the intersection of the two volumes. Wide, unencumbered spaces make for very liveable environments offering a range of perceptive experiences. Building and garden both comply with sustainability and energy efficiency principles. Renewable energy sources reduce water and energy consumption while architectural elements and a rationalized ground plan ensure comfort zone environments. The ground floor living spaces flow seamlessly through to the garden where a small pond and plants thrive in the shade of a majestic jabuticabeira tree, the symbol of the whole house. Enclosing the garden on two sides, these large rooms interlock in terms of function, being at the same time living, dining, conversation, reading, and multimedia spaces. The operable garden-side closures on each side differ slightly. The living area on the ground floor of the 3-storey block has a series of modular, full-height glazed panels set back from the façade that can be slid across to form a permeable boundary dividing the interior from the veranda and garden. The glazing enclosing the environment on the other side is protected by a series of elegant open-mesh folding wood panels. Light filters into the interior, changing as the day proceeds and the seasons turn, delineating spaces and creating new perceptions. The variable degrees of luminosity and transparency allowed by this modern version of the moucharabieh latticework window are echoed on the intermediate floor, where lattice screens can be drawn across the night zone, contrasting to great effect with the surrounding white walls. But it is the upper storey that displays the key architectural feature of the residence: a singular brise-soleil on the glazed walls of a top-floor fitness area. Part sculpture, part architecture, this modular concrete envelope is a complex curving version of the open-weave screen, a dazzling white wrap-around, boxing the upper storey. In contrast, the dappled light behind the intricate screening creates a welcoming, sheltered environment. This is the cobogó, the traditional terra cotta reticulated screen, that harks back to the architecture of Lucio Costa and gives the house its name. Its creator, artist Erwin Hauer took his cue from local craftsmanship for this modern concrete version of a moucharabieh.