Cube House, image courtesy of AR Arquitetos

Cube House, image courtesy of AR Arquitetos

A young architecture office AR Arquitetos recently has completed the Cube House in São Paulo Brazil. The house is a small cube of 6X6X6m in a very tiny urban plot. It was designed with a goal of maximizing the area, physically and visually both the internal and external spaces were merged, allowing maximum use of land with preservation of outdoor areas as extensions of the house.

+ Project description courtesy of AR Arquitetos

INPUT 01
house in a village in the neighborhood of Pompeia, São Paulo, Brazil.
width of the road: 2.60 m
Plot – area: 92.50 sqm; front: 6.60 m; background: 14m, twinned on both sides

INPUT 02
residence for a couple without children;
kitchen as the heart of the house = living and kitchen integrated;
host friends often and wish to have a baby soon = 03 bedrooms
the couple studies and work at home = office with large library
they grow many kinds of plants = outdoor areas
very close neighbors

CONTRADICTION 01
a large house in a small plot

CONTRADICTION 02
he wants maximum privacy, she wants an open house with garden (clear and airy)

OUTPUT 01
the house was closed to the street and opened into the lot, creating a microclimate.

OUTPUT 02
maintain the threshold of the demolished old house (+0.90 m), creating a basement, which houses the library and office with a complete bathroom, convertible to guest-room. From there, the street is seen from an unusual point of view with the sky over the desk.

Cube House - Axonometry, drawing courtesy of AR Arquitetos

VOLUME 01
a cube of about 6 X 6 X 6m placed in the center of the lot, twinned on both sides, opens onto two yards, front and back, allowing maximum use of land with preservation of outdoor areas as extensions of the house.

VOLUME 02
another cube of 3 X 3 X 3m, uncovered, posed in the front setback, completes the house volume, defining the garage void. It comprehends the front courtyard opened to the living-room and also accomodates the laundry.

Cube House, image courtesy of AR Arquitetos

RESULT 01
once the house is opened onto both front and back yards, internal and external areas are merged, without loss of privacy. It means maximum use of the plot, providing abundant natural lighting and ventilation.

Cube House, image courtesy of AR Arquitetos

RESULT 02
ideal distribution for intimate, social and work spaces, allowing concurrent activities without interference.

Cube House, image courtesy of AR Arquitetos

RESULT 03
a large space in a small house.

Cube House - Basement floor plan, drawing courtesy of AR Arquitetos

Cube House - Ground floor plan, drawing courtesy of AR Arquitetos

Cube House - 1st floor plan, drawing courtesy of AR Arquitetos

Cube House - Roof plan, drawing courtesy of AR Arquitetos

Cube House - Section A-A, drawing courtesy of AR Arquitetos

Cube House - Section B-B, drawing courtesy of AR Arquitetos

+ Project credits / data

Architect: AR Arquitetos | Marina Acayaba + Juan Pablo Rosenberg
Project: Cube House
Location: São Paulo, Brazil

+ All images and drawings courtesy of AR Arquitetos