GGL House

Located in São Paulo, the GGL residence was built on a long and narrow plot of land, allowing for maximization of space in an urban context, while meeting the needs of a young family. The layout – spacious within the plot – is comprised of a basement, a ground floor, and an upper floor, which respectively constitute the service area, social spaces, and intimate living spaces. The residence also features a solarium on the roof. The design aims to be new and unexpected all while respecting the architectural style of neighboring dwellings. The proposed concept reinterprets the traditional home: the gable roof is integrated with insulating vertical slats, creating a box-like silhouette highlighting both open and closed spaces, and enclosing the upper floor and solarium. The roof’s asymmetrical slope and openings allow the solarium to be used and creates an intimate space for contemplation amongst the tree tops. The upper floor is comprised of intimate living spaces, which receive daylight in a unique fashion throughout the day due to the interplay between the open and closed spaces. The social floor is characterized by a concrete gable that splits the space; on one side, the pool, adjacent to a green wall, ventilates and illuminates the ground-level entry, and is adjoined by a glass frame enclosure that stands out for its ability to flexibly extend the two spaces. A block overlaid with a wire screen houses the kitchen and the service area. The sunken block brings coziness into the ambiance, while the living room takes up the remainder of the space, accentuated by a higher ceiling, featuring an exclusive view of the rich vegetation of the neighboring land. Material choice was driven by the following considerations: variety in textures (concrete, wood, clay, metal, and glass), neutral hues, and low maintenance needs for exposed elements (such as choice in concrete and wire screen).