FJ Pompeia

Superlimão is designing a new store for designer Fernando Jaeger in a former house in the Pompéia neighborhood of São Paulo. The building, which was once a family home and also a school, underwent a retrofit adapted to its current needs. The project began with a more in-depth study of the building, including almost archaeological visits to the basement and attic, where they discovered beautiful brick arches and peroba beams. Large windows, high ceilings, and a garden overlooking the SESC Pompéia, a design by Lina Bo Bardi, crowned by a jabuticabeira tree, were also striking features of the property and should be preserved. Based on this decision, Superlimão sought to enhance all these elements and created spacious, integrated spaces with irregular ceiling heights. To achieve this, the wooden floor, the ceiling, and several walls were removed. The structural beams from the removed floor were used as pillars, which transfer the roof loads directly to the brick foundations. This new use allowed the removal of the walls, resulting in two large, sunken living rooms, revealing the high ceilings that existed, but were previously unexposed. On the house's main circulation axis, the masonry was simply stripped, and the original floorboards were retained. The installation of the new metal-framed warehouse highlighted the axis aligned with the SESC Pompéia chimney. To preserve this charming detail, three large swing doors were created, integrating the warehouse's interior with the large garden, part of the over 1,000m² of land. At the back of the warehouse, a large window was added, framing the SESC and visible when passing from the old house to the new building, now connected by a large metal ramp. Modern and industrial elements such as electrical gutters, metal railings, large iron gates, and polished cement floors were incorporated into the interior of the house, creating a harmonious contrast with the 20th-century architecture and the new elements. A characteristic of the project was its focus on sustainable solutions. To achieve this, Superlimão suggested optimal use of natural ventilation and lighting, which provide greater energy efficiency for the building, minimizing electricity costs. Furthermore, the reuse of materials, rainwater harvesting, and LED lighting were also incorporated. The entire building is surrounded by a lush tropical garden designed by SAPU Landscape Studio, which offers a pleasant and intriguing atmosphere, reflecting the paradox between house and factory, the new and the old. This creates a new phase for the nearly century-old building.