Dendê Duratex House

Inspired and guided by the excellence that his work has been conquering since his first participation in CASACOR, Nildo José, a prodigy architect who, with a five year old firm, has already stablished himself as one of the main brands of Brazilian architecture, arrives in a festive mood in this year’s edition of the showcase, signing the “Dendê” Duratex House project in partnership with the supplier of solutions in wood panels, laminate floors, vinyl flooring and skirting boards, Duratex. The event, which runs from May 28 to August 4, at the Jockey Club of São Paulo, takes as its theme 'Planet Home'.

Carrying out his first construction of a complete house from scratch (standing out from his previous only interior design work), Nildo devised a project of 155 square meters in area with fluid and minimalist spaces. Encompassing a living room, a kitchen and dining room, a courtyard with a tree in the middle and a master suite, the house escapes from ready-made formulas and the stereotype of colored Bahia (a Brazilian state and region, the architect's native land and source of inspiration for the project). Every detail reflects a special bond with his homeland in a sober way, rich in art, “bossa” and poetry.

Trying to convey an elegant and, at the same time, rustic essence, Nildo José conceived a house of clean architecture, abundant in straight lines, with punctual curves that make analogy to the “Recôncavo” of Bahia (a concave-shaped area of land around water in the region of “Baía de Todos os Santos” or All Saints’ Bay). The façade, for example, is expressed through a strategic feature, a volumetric play with light and shadows, which shows the technical expertise of the architect. Upon entering the residence, a marble slab with rock salt in it, 15 meters long with LED strips lighting under, welcomes visitors and recalls Bahian mysticism in a creative and subtle way.

Still in the entrance, the walls and ceiling connect in a joint concave shape, that originate from this volume of stone on the floor, in slatted panels of Duratex wood, creating an optical illusion that mixes the vertical plane with the horizontal. The architect, who has always used woodwork in light nuances in the creation of his projects, innovates by betting for the first time in dark tones, especially in the “Trancoso” Duratex tonality, which resembles the Jacarandá wood from Bahia, a dark and resistant trunk tree. In addition, the burnt cement coating of the walls in linen color creates an interesting contrast with the wood and makes a strong reference to the light and simple style of Bahia beach houses.

Inside, natural stone flooring forms the visual alongside large window panes, installed around the outside garden of Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata, in Portuguese it translates to “Espadas de São Jorge” or St. George’s Swords) - signed by Bia Abreu landscaping - thus making another reference to the Bahian mystic, letting the sunlight in and visually bringing the landscape inside the house – a way to recreate the color and the Brazilian Northeastern heat. There is a skylight opening in the ceiling over the living room, protected by a special glass that controls sunrays, and a wood latticework panel, that filters the light and was chosen as it is an element of Bahian architecture, favoring a ventilated internal space, an important feature due to the warm temperatures of the region.

This architectural element (latticework wood panel) is also present in the construction of the bathroom and kitchen. Both located in a joint central box, made of that material, the inside spaces can become invisible only by closing the doors belonging to this microarchitecture. A lounge with four armchairs divides space with the dining table, or gourmet island, designed by Nildo, which created a rereading of an original design of French architect Joseph Dirand. Most of the fabrics, wefts and carpets were brought from Bahia and made by the traditional manual loom of the state, similar to those that constitute rest hammocks.

In the living room, a large bookshelf designed by the office and Florense, takes up one of the walls exhibiting bottles of cachaça cointaining Bahia's sand, making an analogy to the colonial past of the Recôncavo in a subtle way. Works by Célia Euvaldo, Karin Lambretch, Zé Rufino, Marcia Thompson, Sidney Amaral, Junior Suci and Ulysses Boscolo, as well as handicraft pieces like “former vows” from Galeria Estação, help construct the singular and contemplative prose of Dendê Duratex House.

In the suite, another highlight of the project is the launch of Deca's white bathroom faucets and fixtures, made especially for the space. The set of white linen sheet and duvet signed by Casa Moysés give a refined look to the bed and a finishing touch the sophistication of the environment.

The house inspires a dreamlike nature through the abundance of pure textures, where the composition and combination of distinct elements impart a harmonious essence that transcends design and forms a project rich in samba, in addition to relating with the universe that Nildo Jose considers as his home planet.

Nildo José