Páteo House | Angá Arquitetura

The colonial house from the 1970s has a U-shaped layout, occupying the edges of the plot and creating a large open courtyard in the center. The traditional plan was divided into several rooms and no longer made sense so we began the project by rethinking the circulation and use of spaces. We concentrated the social and entertainment areas in the central courtyard and the wide corridor that runs along the entire “U”, which previously served only as a circulation, now serves several uses: gourmet space, living room, office space. Finally, we enlarged some of the existing openings so that the spaces were even wider and more integrated.

In addition, the house was poorly lit and had dark finishes that further reinforced the old-fashioned feel. We looked for light and practical coatings and the dark wood gave way to a grayish blue paint that brings flair to the house.

BRIEFING:

Planned from the beginning to be rented out, this house should feel practical and cozy. The different rooms should be integrated and more well lit. The old finishes gave a sense of seriousness and should be replaced.

CHALLENGES:

The biggest challenge in this project was to make the most of the pre-existing structures while adapting the layout to present day uses. In addition, we sought to bring a light and more modern palette to the finishes, without compromising the original colonial style of the house.

SOLUTIONS:

We sought to respect the house’s colonial style by painting the walls white and bringing color to the windows and doors. Wood and fabrics bring warmth to the spaces and the colorful doors and windows nod to the original style of the house while bringing a lighter and more contemporary air.

The social area of ​​the house is very integrated. The living room serves as a transition from the patio to the outdoor area and its square layout allows for pleasant conversations. One of the living room windows was transformed into french doors to facilitate access to the front yard, in addition to increasing the view of the sea. We kept the original arches between the living room and the TV room to reinforce the integration of the spaces and make them more ventilated.

In the dining room, we renovated the old buffet. Made of dark dyed wood, we painted its doors to make it lighter. The rustic table contrasts with the chosen chairs and lamps, which bring a more contemporary touch to the space.

The central courtyard area was expanded with the demolition of an old kiosk. The idea was to increase the garden space and use the arched corridor to house the barbecue and a covered seating area. We designed a new pool centered on the patio and used the dense vegetation on the wall behind it to create a background and grant more privacy from the neighbors.

We increased the span of the existing arch in the hallway to frame the gourmet space. We positioned the bench between the access to the kitchen and the dining room, making everything more practical and, right in front of the living room, we placed smaller tables for having a drink or quick bite while others are in the pool.

In the section of the corridor that gives access to the rooms, we chose to transform the doorways into windows, to ensure more safety when there are children in the house: in addition to bringing a little more privacy to the suites, the doors make direct access to the pool impossible. Even so, we kept a view of the patio and a good width in this circulation, which made it possible to create a space with a desk for an office and another living area.

Altogether there are 6 suites. The neutral base of the rooms brings spaciousness and offers various possibilities for decorating. The main suite gained an opening onto the central lawn. The bathroom was moved and its old window was transformed into a balcony door, thus ensuring, from the bed, a view of the sea.