Designed by architect Solange Calio (@solangecalioarquitetos), this 517-square-meter (5,565 sq ft) single-story home was built from the ground up on a 1,000-square-meter (10,764 sq ft) lot in a gated community in Catanduva, São Paulo, for physician Mariana Ramires, construction entrepreneur João Paulo Fachini, and their daughters Helena and Maria Antônia. The project was conceived around the idea of creating a residence defined by clean lines, generous spaces, and strong integration with the garden—the true protagonist of the design—reinforcing a sense of permanent vacation living.
The home’s horizontal language is expressed through the use of reclaimed wood, sanded and treated to a whitish tone, applied across façades, ceilings, panels, and millwork, in dialogue with a chromium-gray cementitious texture used on floors and selected walls. The couple also requested a playroom, a meditation space, and abundant greenery in the outdoor areas, along with a modern, minimalist aesthetic featuring a restrained material palette. The interior design follows the same approach, combining newly acquired designer furniture with custom millwork.
Outdoors, highlights include pieces by Carlos Motta and Guilherme Wentz, while the living areas feature armchairs by Jorge Zalszupin and a custom-designed metal shelving unit. The neutral palette is accented with touches of green, while the TV room introduces shades of red and burgundy. A standout feature is the swimming pool clad in green glass mosaic tiles, fed by a water feature that runs beneath it, positioned directly in front of the couple’s bedroom. The entire process—from design to completion—took three years, resulting in a modern, minimalist home full of personality. Photographer: Denilson Machado, from @mca_estudio Landscape design: @LFpaisagismo
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Designed by architect Solange Calio (@solangecalioarquitetos), this 517-square-meter (5,565 sq ft) single-story residence, built from the ground up on a 1,000-square-meter (10,764 sq ft) lot in a gated community in Catanduva, São Paulo, was conceived to offer the family the feeling of living on a permanent vacation. The project began after the homeowners—physician Mariana Ramires and construction entrepreneur João Paulo Fachini, parents of Helena (6) and Maria Antônia (4)—acquired the lot and were referred to the architect by a relative who had previously worked with her.
The concept of the residence is based on clean lines, generous spaces, and seamless integration between interiors and the garden, which became the project’s central feature. The program includes a powder room, kitchen, dining room, TV room, playroom, children’s suite, primary suite, laundry room, and pantry, in addition to an outdoor area composed of a covered gourmet terrace, swimming pool, and a landscaped garden with a pond, trees, and seating areas.
A strong horizontal language defines the project, reinforced by the extensive use of reclaimed wood, sanded and treated to a whitish tone, applied consistently across façades, ceilings, panels, and millwork. This materiality is paired with a chromium-gray cementitious finish used on floors and selected walls, creating visual unity. “We designed large openings with fully retractable doors, allowing, for example, the dining room, TV room, and gourmet area to be completely integrated depending on the occasion. We positioned the kitchen close to the outdoor gourmet area to provide support,” explains Solange.
Among the couple’s main requests were a playroom for their daughters (which may eventually become one of their bedrooms), a meditation space, and abundant greenery in the outdoor areas. From an aesthetic standpoint, they envisioned a modern, minimalist architecture with minimal material variation. “That’s why all countertops in the house are made of the same Itaúnas granite, and all floors and walls without wood received the same light gray cementitious finish,” adds the architect.
The interior design follows the same principles, with newly acquired pieces selected specifically for the project, combining signature furniture with custom millwork. In the outdoor area, highlights include the low Caju side table, armchairs, and sofa in reclaimed wood from the Astúrias line by Carlos Motta, as well as the Gravatá bar stools in light wood by Guilherme Wentz. In the dining and TV living areas, notable pieces include the Senior dining chairs by Jorge Zalszupin and a gray metal shelving unit designed by the studio.
The color palette is based on a light, neutral foundation, accented with touches of green that reinforce the indoor-outdoor connection. In the TV room, shades of red and burgundy appear in elements such as the rug and textile pieces. The primary suite features Platô armchairs by Lucas Neves, a low headboard in aged olive-green leather, and a reclaimed wood panel, while the daughters’ suite includes Nubo pendant lights by Futon Company and the Eames Elephant stool by Vitra.
In the leisure area, the swimming pool is finished with green glass mosaic tiles and features a small waterfall fed by the pond that runs beneath it, positioned directly in front of the couple’s bedroom.
The entire process—from design and approvals to construction and final styling—took three years. “Developing this project was extremely rewarding because the site was excellent and, from the beginning, the clients were very confident in what they wanted. Our greatest challenge was meeting both our own expectations and theirs, creating a home that is modern, minimalist, and at the same time full of personality,” concludes Solange Calio.
