AL House | Studio Arthur Casas

Having an approach well defined by the owner: to make the most of the stunning view of Rio de Janeiro’s sea, the design of this house was first conceived by Studio Arthur Casas even before the first sketch. The owner, a single entrepreneur and long-standing client of the Studio, was moving out of the apartment he used to live in to build his own house; for that purpose, he made it a point to assign the whole work to the Studio, starting from the choice of the ideal location.
Located in Joá, a mostly residential district in Rio de Janeiro, the sloping plot of land did not have a direct sea view, which intrigued the client. “We chose the land together, so, for me, it was clear that in the end we would count on the scenery. This seemed to be impossible to him, because the land had a considerable slope falling from the street, and a huge and relatively tall building between the land and the shore. I assured him that his living and recreational areas would have a full view to the sea,” says Arthur Casas. The solution was to raise the entrance, the living and recreational areas, and the swimming pool to the second storey, leaving the guest rooms and the utility room on the first storey, which is surrounded by a green garden.
To best enjoy the scenery, large glass panels slide inside the walls, integrating the living room and the terrace into one space. “There are times when this view is just breathtaking, so the living areas needed to be all aligned to make the most of that. These enormous spans enhance the sensation of the residence’s scale; however, as a rule, our designs have the same dimensions of a conventional building,” he adds.
Just as receiving guests was important, the privacy of the private rooms was essential. A smaller third storey houses the master suite and the home office, both facing the horizon.
As for the materials used, the quest to blend them into the scenery resulted in the use of wood and stone. “Cumaru, or Brazilian Teak, is an extremely resistant timber, which is also great for outdoor applications,” he points out.
As for the interior design and decoration we valued comfort and stripped-down design. Brazilian furniture mingles with handpicked international pieces.