Private residence “Casa Plana”

By Francesco Pagliari - 2 October 2019

The landscape is one of gently rolling hills, open fields, copses and small clear lakes; the location, the hinterland of Brazil’s State of São Paolo. Nestled into a slight rise in the ground, Casa Plana succeeds in almost completely concealing itself amid the luxuriant vegetation while at the same time asserting its individuality. The stark geometrical configuration presupposes careful study of the horizontal orientation of the house - always a major concern of architect Marcio Kogan’s designs and here a key feature of the uncompromising program of this large residential bungalow. The elongated rectangular floor plan extends on a north-south axis. The wholly enclosed segment of the house is divided into two functional blocks by a central corridor: to the west, the night zone where bedrooms are set in sequence - four modular units and a larger master bedroom, each not only en-suite but also equipped with a technical room; to the east, a laundry area, two staff bedrooms with access to a small living area, a gym, and plant and storage space. On the west side, a two-depth swimming pool looks out over towards a nearby lake. The day zones and communal environments are located at each end of the house. The roof is another key feature: a continuous green expanse framed by the unrendered border of its concrete slab. It seems almost like a long flat lid pressing down on the living spaces and transitional areas below. More a piece of the landscape than an architectural feature, it offers the additional benefit of thermal control of the environments below. The result is a residence camouflaged amid the vegetation. Skylights on the large roof allow direct daylight into the living and service areas while a roof-top solar panel system contributes to energy efficiency. The day zone is laid out according to the same strict horizon plan. To the south, a large outdoor/indoor space benefits from the prevailing breezes and looks out on to untrammeled views framed...