The extensive green roof of the “Planar House” in Porto Feliz, a municipality in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, is a radical and horizontal exercise. The house is also an aspect that is often explored in studio MK27's projects. Discreetly inserted into the highest point of the environment and favored by the existing topography, its presence is felt most strongly in the footprint rather than volumetrically. The architectural building project is accordingly an extensive line in an open landscape.
The perfection of the extraordinary accommodation is achieved above all by the green roof, which imitates the surrounding lawn. Facing the roof terrace as the fifth wall of the building, the architects have also carefully integrated the solar panels and skylights into this fascinating green roof. This type of insertion onto the property required care and attention when designing the roof. This was also an exercise in the composition and selection of equipment that the team placed there.
Extensive green roofs as part of the landscape
As mentioned above, the extensive green roof imitates the large pasture around it and also contributes to the thermal comfort in the house. “From a structural perspective, the green roof terrace is onehuge concrete slab, which is supported directly by pillars standing on three axes,” explains the main architect of Studio MK27. But in reality, you don't have to be an expert in architecture to realize that it is much more than that.
The wall, which in this project is usually a symbol of division and isolation, appears rather concave and partly convex. It encloses the front garden and creates transparency and protection from the street. The brick structure contributes to a cozy atmosphere and creates light filters with a kinetic effect throughout the day.
Contrasting room design
For your information, the interior of the bungalow is functionally divided into two parts. The first structure includes service areas and a gym. There is also a large open space for games and watching movies or watching TV. The second wing houses five parental suites, which are rooms with attached bathrooms. The extensive green roof also impresses by filling the eye despite its discreet placement without appearing intrusive.
Furthermore, residents can completely open or close the living rooms, which are located at both ends of the property, depending on their wishes and needs. Logically, this is possible thanks to the generous all-round sliding windows. This instantly transforms the house into a richly proportioned terrace when the doors are opened. Thus, it is completely surrounded or even engulfed by beautiful nature.
As a key element of architecture
The same captivating effect can be observed when you look at the flat house from above - but in this case it is more the extensive green roof that creates it. Structurally, the concrete slab is a rigid platform supported not by beams but directly by the columns, modularly distributed in three axes. The cross-shaped metal columns pay homage to the elegant proportions of such architecture.
All interiors of the exclusive apartment are equipped with low furniture made of solid wood. The arrangement leaves enough space for free circulation between the furniture pieces and the panels. This feature enhances the natural effect that can already be felt throughout the residence. For this reason, the ambience enables an individual reading of each individual room. A translucent multi-colored club chair hanging from the ceiling immediately attracts attention. This also contrasts with the horizontal lines of the house.
Impressive exterior design and stonework
Around the rigid formal distribution there is a vertical wall made of solid bricks arranged in solids and voids. Paradoxically, the masonry defines different connections between the internal and external spaces.
In addition, the perforated wall contributes to this airy and relaxed result. In the picture above you can admire the remarkable structure as well as the blurry wavy shape. The latter also reduces the overall context and contrasts nicely with the rectangular shape of the green roof terrace.
In this regard, the architects add that the wall is usually a symbol of division and isolation. However, this takes on new meaning in the context of this project. Through its texture, the brick contributes to the warm atmosphere and creates light filters with kinetic effects throughout the day. Finally, thanks to the adapted lighting, this structural element also shows its potential at night.
Architects websiteStudio MK27
