Vila Matilde House / Terra e Tuma Arquitetos Associados

Vila Matilde House / Terra e Tuma Arquitetos Associados - FacadeVila Matilde House / Terra e Tuma Arquitetos Associados - Door, Facade, Windows, CourtyardVila Matilde House / Terra e Tuma Arquitetos Associados - Windows, Table, Bench, BeamVila Matilde House / Terra e Tuma Arquitetos Associados - Windows, FacadeVila Matilde House / Terra e Tuma Arquitetos Associados - More Images+ 53

São Paulo, Brazil
  • Architects In Charge: Danilo Terra, Pedro Tuma, Fernanda Sakano
  • Design Team: Bruna Hashimoto, Giulia Sofia Galante, Jéssica Zanini, Lucas Miilher, Zeno Muica
  • City: São Paulo
  • Country: Brazil
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Vila Matilde House / Terra e Tuma Arquitetos Associados - Chair, Facade, Beam, Garden, Patio, Courtyard
© Pedro Kok

Text description provided by the architects. In 2011, a young man reached out to us about the possibility of designing a house for his mother, a person of few belongings, who lived in a house with severe structural and sanitary problems.

Ms. Dalva has lived for decades in Vila Matilde, an outlying neighbourhood in São Paulo, Brazil. Close to her are cousins, uncles, brothers and friends. The first option would be to sell the house, and with her lifetime savings acquire a small apartment, even further away and most likely without access to an elevator. A troublesome situation, considering her advanced age.

Vila Matilde House / Terra e Tuma Arquitetos Associados - Image 52 of 58
Ground Floor Plan

Before long, it was glaringly obvious to resist displacement and isolation. To not move away. With this in mind, it was up to us and a network of collaborators to make it work. Once the process commenced, there was no going back and everything had to work until the end. The project's design and construction work had to be suitable to the family's constrained finances.

Vila Matilde House / Terra e Tuma Arquitetos Associados - Table
© Pedro Kok

In early 2014, the house showed clear signs of deterioration and began to collapse. Ms. Dalva went on to live on rent at a relative's house. The new house had to be built as fast as possible, else her expenses would completely consume all savings.  We used our recent experiences in exposed, structural wall blocks to erect a low-cost building, with great control and agility.

Vila Matilde House / Terra e Tuma Arquitetos Associados - Table, Windows, Door, Beam
© Pedro Kok
Vila Matilde House / Terra e Tuma Arquitetos Associados - Facade
© Pedro Kok

The biggest challenge appeared at the first stage of construction. Careful demolition of the old house took four months, at the same time that we executed the foundation and reinforced retaining walls which supported neighbouring buildings. The house was completed six months after masonry work was set forth.

Vila Matilde House / Terra e Tuma Arquitetos Associados - Windows, Facade, Handrail, Balcony
© Pedro Kok

The house is laid out in a 4.8m by 25m urban lot. On the ground floor, it features a living room, lavatory, kitchen, laundry and suite, to attend the needs of the homeowner. An articulation between lavatory, kitchen, laundry and an inner courtyard connects the living room at the front to the bedroom in the back. At the center, the green courtyard provides for light and ventilation. This area also serves as an extensions of the kitchen and laundry. The second floor accommodates a guest room, rendering a total area of 95m2. A vegetable garden grows on top of the living room's concrete slab ceiling, and can be covered later to accommodate future demands of the family.

A simple solution, result of a long, complex and gratifying process.

Vila Matilde House / Terra e Tuma Arquitetos Associados - Windows, Facade
© Pedro Kok

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About this office
Cite: "Vila Matilde House / Terra e Tuma Arquitetos Associados" 11 Nov 2015. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/776909/vila-matilde-house-terra-e-tuma-arquitetos> ISSN 0719-8884

© Pedro Kok

年度建筑奖获得者:为祖母建造的 Matilde 住宅 / Terra e Tuma Arquitetos Associados

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