TROPICAL BRUTALIST HOUSE – PRISCILA BERSELLI

Project Info: Tropical Brutalist House
Year: 2021-2022
Area: 4.450 sq ft
Location: São Paulo, Brazil.
Category: Residential Refurbishment
My Role: Interior Architect, Project Lead, Creative Direction, Detailed Joinery Design, On-site Project Management, On-site Styling and Photoshoot Direction.
Softwares: AutoCAD, Archicad, SketchUp, V-Ray, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe In Design.
Credits: Designed while working at Moove Arquitetos.
Photography: Maira Acayaba
Project Summary: This project involved the comprehensive retrofit of an original 1970s house in São Paulo, initially designed by a renowned Brazilian architect. Untouched for decades, the property was purchased in December 2020 by clients requiring a complete ground-floor reconfiguration to suit their lifestyle. The core brief included a new living area, a kitchen seamlessly integrated with the garden, and a new swimming pool. Over a 10-month period, I led the concept design, coordinated the technical teams, and oversaw the on-site implementation. The intervention required a full overhaul of the MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) services, whilst carefully preserving and restoring the original architectural materials. A standout feature is the bespoke joinery, particularly a solid timber panel that elegantly screens the main entrance from the parking area, complementing the newly landscaped garden and its fluid indoor-outdoor connection.

Technical drawings of the proposal layout

The new glass windows that form the perimeter of the living room visually integrate the area with the garden, and make the environment very fresh and pleasant.

The original exposed concrete of the stairs, slabs, and facade were preserved and restored, bringing a very interesting texture to the space.

The solid wood flooring has also been restored, and its tone warms the home's intimate living area.

On the second floor, the original furniture and concrete fireplace have been restored and preserved, and the fabrics once again provide a pop of color to contrast with the exposed materials of the original architecture.

The beautiful existing floor-to-ceiling pivot doors were preserved. They divide the rooms from the living room in a very interesting way and are one of the highlights of the house's original design.

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