Casa Maracanã, en Brasil

Los planos que definen la geometría -opaco en la materialidad grisácea, claro en las superficies vidriadas o vibrantes en el mural de acceso- muestran su presencia como un nuevo evento en los alrededores bucólicos, donde las personas se preguntan curiosas sobre esta nueva construcción. Su geometría discordante en relación con las viviendas tradicionales sorprende al vecindario en el momento en que concilia cualquier definición territorial, admitiéndola como elemento y a la vez como evento público que se apodera de la calle y permite que sea percibida. A través de la ocupación total disponible de la propiedad, comparte sus límites como si interiorizara los alrededores aunque aparezca como un lugar único.

Más que un único espacio, sus niveles gradualmente forman un camino a través del cual el exterior y el interior se funden en forma adecuada y continua. La casa descubre nuevas posibilidades a las limitaciones de la trama. Su complejidad supera las rutas horizontales y verticales conduciendo a una nueva experiencia espacial, capaz de dilucidar las singularidades de la geografía del distrito.

Estar en la casa de la calle Maracaná es estar en Lapa, es vivir juntos con sus peculiaridades con la esperanza de descubrir hasta donde sus espacios nos puede llevar y con la posibilidad de contemplar los techos rojizos de las construcciones vecinas y la fachada de la iglesia que corona el distrito, mientras el sol se pone en el horizonte de São Paulo.

Entrar en la casa no significa ponerse de espaldas a la ciudad o entrar a un universo desconectado. Su acceso tiene que ser descubierto por detrás del mural de cerámica pintado en composiciones de negro, blanco y rojo. Entrar en la casa significa, simplemente, transponer una sucesión de espacios, a veces estrechos, otros iluminados o con sombra, que nos llevan siempre a tener nuevas experiencias.

La llegada de la casa pasa del vacío -un punto de vista de la sala de estar- hasta el área que identifica los locales funcionales: los sociales abajo y los íntimos arriba. La casa es una infraestructura viva. El pavimento que configura una sucesión de perspectivas es sutil y está protegido por grande marcos de cristal. El manejo de la técnica y el uso de materiales mínimos, como la piedra sobre piedra, confirma que la arquitectura puede desnudar las superficialidades temporales presentes y elevar sólo la esencia espacial.

Original Text in English

São Paulo. In this city, which contemporaneity is able to perform the most extraordinary urban contrasts for us, living can reveal an encouraging condition. In search of a place where this could be experienced, the idea of an elementary residence acquires the character of a ha­ppening. Thus, as this house decided to silently place itself at the westerly metropolitan meanders, is how it is presented at Maracanã Street.

The plans which define the geometry -opaque in grayish materiality, clear in glass surfaces or vibrant on the access mural- shows its presence like a new event around the bucolic surroundings, where curious people wonder this new construction. Its discordant geometry in relation to the traditional houses of the neighborhood surprises upon the moment when it conce­als any territorial definition, admitting as an element and as a public event, takes possession of the street which allows to be perceived. Through its whole property’s occupation as it is available, it shares its limits as if internalizes the surrounding and though arises its unique place.

More than a space, its levels gradually form a path through which outside and inside merge in a proper and continuous shape. The house discovers new possibilities to the limitations of the scanty plot, whose complexity exceeds horizontal and vertical routes which invariably leads to a new spatial experience, capable to elucidate singularities of the district’s geography.

Being in the house of Maracanã Street is being in Lapa; is to live together with its peculiarities, stamped in the expectation to discover until where its spaces can conduct us and the possibility it offers the contemplation of neighbors’ reddish roof constructions and the church facade which crowns the district, while the sunset at São Paulo’s horizon gets unveiled. Entering the house doesn’t mean to set apart the city, which leads us to it or to close off a disconnected universe. Its access has to be discovered from behind the ceramics mural painted in black, white and red compositions. Entering the house means, simply to transpose a succession of spaces, now narrow, now lightened, now shady, which leads us always to new experiences.

The house’s arrival happens from the emptiness, which is a viewpoint to the living space and also an identification area of its functional sections: social and services below, intimate above. Like the city streets, the lights between their spaces enlighten every direction, through big glass openings which sets against the solidity of the concrete materiality which it is built.

Which way some arrives, which way some passes, which way some goes? Through the space and the emptiness, going around or staying, that’s how its extension is discovered. We can find ourselves immersed in its lower pavement, defined by concrete plans, by the gardens and by the backyard which shape the ambiance, or we can go through vertically until the gli­ding plan of the roof unveils the sky in a special instant leaving us as observers of the city whose point of view is this house’s roof top.

The house is a living infrastructure. The pavement which configures a succession of perspectives is subtle protected by the presence of big glass frames. The handling of the technique and the use of minimum materials, as if it where stones over stones in its essence, confirm that Architecture can undress the present temporary superficialities and elevate only the spatial essence.

The shelter, the protection to the fundamental comprehends the nature into what the house is destined and the sense it assumes, for those who are witnesses. Nothing more is needed for the contemporaneous city living. Here is the fundamental residence, unique and revealed.