House 53 / Marcio Kogan

© Rômulo Fialdini

Architect: Marcio Kogan
Location: Sao Paulo,
Co-Author: Suzana Glogowski
Interior Design: Diana Radomysler, Mariana Simas
Project Team: Beatriz Meyer, Carolina Castroviejo, Eduardo Chalabi, Eduardo Glycerio, Gabriel Kogan, Lair Reis, Maria Cristina Motta, Oswaldo Pessano, Renata Furlanetto, Samanta Cafardo
Landscape Architect: Renata Tilli
General Contractor: Fairbanks & Pilnik
Structural Engineering: Leão e Associados
Site Area: 330 sqm
Project Area: 350 sqm
Project Year: 2008-2009
Photographs: Rômulo Fialdini

The House 53 volumetry was defined following São Paulo city building laws and the site’s peculiar shape, which is just over 10 meters in front and approximately 30 meters in length. According to the legislation one can build in the neighborhood up to a two-floor building, settled upon the site’s lateral limits. A third floor is allowed as long as the lateral setbacks are respected.

ground floor plan
first floor plan
© Rômulo Fialdini

The house was conceived as a wood and mortar monolithic block with another concrete and volume upon it. Due to the ground’s small front and volumetry, the box’s two edges had to make the most of light’s entrance, which explains the large windows. It was also desirable that these windows would make it possible to darken the internal environment whenever needed.

© Rômulo Fialdini

The house’s inferior volume, which comprises the living room on the first floor, and the bedrooms on the second floor, is a glass box with wooden brises that open as folding doors. The rooms’ front and back facades were designed to be completely closed or opened.

© Rômulo Fialdini

From the outside, when the brises (and the front wall, which follows the same language) are closed, it´s impossible to distinguish the openings, and all wooden surfaces make up a pure single volume, without bumps. When these brises are opened, the house looks like a large wood folding.

* Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
Cite: "House 53 / Marcio Kogan" 09 Sep 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed 21 May 2013. <http://www.archdaily.com/76386>

11 comments

  1. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    Nice work…, very interesting.
    I like the interior spaces, they look nice and clean.
    Also, the control of the light with those huge folding and louvered wood doors.
    This is one more good example of the current architecture in South America !!

    Reply
  3. Thumb up Thumb down 0

    Dear Archdaily,

    Please can you bribe Marcio Kogan next time…don’t allow him to post another project unless he posts a detail of his windows!

    Simply incredible.

    Reply
    • Thumb up Thumb down 0

      @Ross:
      Google for Skyframe, not the same but slim and well insulated.

      What kind of chairs are around the long dining table, anyone?

      Reply
      • Thumb up Thumb down 0

        Nice find, thank you!

        On his website is the name of the maufacturer/craftsman in the project details. Looks like each time they’re one-offs.

  8. Thumb up Thumb down 0

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    Reply

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