Marilia

Architectural Concept: The history of this house located just a few meters from Avenida Paulista begins in the early 20th century, as evidenced by its first city hall plan, dated 1915. Modest in proportions compared to the region's mansions, yet rich in detail, it has undergone numerous renovations and uses throughout its nearly century-long existence. A small survivor in a region now steeped in tall glass towers, it was decided early on that the house would remain. To adapt the residence, with its small compartmentalized areas, to its new commercial use, the decision was made to unify the spaces. This created large spaces that could be closed off according to the client's needs, thus giving the space great flexibility. This required significant structural and infrastructural intervention. To achieve this, it was decided that all interventions would be undertaken, so that the contrast between the new and the old would be clear. Site and Massing: Seeking the highest possible floor space efficiency without losing the building's characteristic residential character, an in-depth study was conducted, taking into account legislation, energy efficiency, and the various periods the house had experienced. The demolition of underutilized areas allowed for the construction of two additional floors. These were built respecting the new setbacks, creating a pyramidal shape. This way, all rooms have direct access to generous terraces. During the excavation of the basement for the foundations, beautiful foundations with wide bricks were discovered. This space was used as a technical area, housing the electrical and plumbing installations, and the elevator's machine room. Structure: Due to its advanced age and the structural masonry construction, it was decided to create an independent metal structure, which, like an exoskeleton, transfers the new loads directly to new foundations built literally beneath the existing house. In cases where the walls were already compromised, different restoration techniques were used, such as the installation of external profiles connected by tie rods. These compress the walls and prevent them from collapsing like a house of cards. This is a technique widely used in the restoration of medieval buildings in Italy. Enclosures and Cladding: On the original floors, walls were stripped, revealing the different periods and renovations the house had undergone. Brick arches and concrete lintels with river pebbles were some of the elements that appeared in this phase of the project. The removed walls had their materials properly stored and, at the appropriate stage, reused to create the enclosures on the new floors. The same was true for the wooden flooring, roof beams, door frames, doors, and windows, which were restored and used according to their original function or remodeled to create furniture. Highlights include the external flooring made with shards of roof tiles and the door made with roof purlins. The upper floors were enclosed with sliding and tilting frames, allowing for controlled natural light and ventilation. To adapt this century-old residence for its new office use, it was decided to maximize the existing qualities, as evidenced by the almost complete use of the structure and materials. The flooring on the first floors was reinstalled, while the new areas have raised cement slab floors. Sustainability: In addition to the almost complete reuse of existing materials, the prefabricated structure drastically reduced the generation of debris, and consequently, energy costs and CO2 emissions from transportation. Energy efficiency was a key factor in this project; therefore, several studies using electronic models and energy sizing software were used to define the materials and openings. The wide original walls ensure high thermal inertia, which, combined with cross-ventilation, creates a pleasant environment, minimizing the use of air conditioning. In the new floors, sliding frames combined with tilt-and-turn windows allow for controlled ventilation and optimize light intake. All rainwater is collected through hidden drains beneath the raised floor. It is filtered and stored in two large 10,000-liter reservoirs located underground. Smaller water tanks located on the roof allow gravity-fed water to be used, thus reducing the need for pumping without overloading the structure.