Casa AL
The owner had a very clear goal: enjoy the astounding views of Rio’s mountains and sea. A long time client of Studio Arthur Casas, the bachelor entrepreneur wished to move from his flat and build a house straight from the beginning with the architects, starting with choosing the right spot.
Located in the hills near São Conrado beach, the plot intrigued the client, as it had no direct views of the sea, blocked by the front neighbor’s wall, nor would it be the best choice to contemplate the surrounding mountains, due to the level difference with the street. “For me it was clear that we could to reach the view. I assured him that all the social areas would be intertwined with the landscape” said Arthur Casas.
The solution was to raise the entrance, the social areas and the pool to the first floor, with a direct access from the higher level of the steep street. Thus, spectacular views were created by overlooking the neighbor’s house. Large glass panels slide and hide behind the walls in order to erase the boundaries between inside and outside. Great spans amplify this sensation of living within the scenery. The infinity swimming pool seems to float above the lush forest and the Atlantic Ocean.
Guestrooms and service areas were located in the ground floor, surrounded by an enclosed garden. In the second floor, a volume with smaller proportions is covered in wood, housing private dependencies such as the master suite and the spa, both oriented towards the horizon.
The materials employed are inspired by the landscape, with local stone from nearby Minas Gerais state and cumaru wood (Brazilian Teak), extremely resistant to weather variations. The interior design valued comfort and casualness, by using the warm textures of Brazilian furniture blended with hand-picked foreign items.
