The Arabic grid house has become an urban oasis that combines nature and design

December 3, 2025
00:00
3 minutes reading‘

“We envision a home that improves the quality of life of those who live in it. For nearly three years we have been working on forming a “Comfortable and harmonious single-family home”the Bernardes Arquitetura team told us about this design and interior design project located in downtown São Paulo, Brazil.

The house is protected from the street and opens completely to the internal garden. Pedro Cook

“It was an organic, unhurried creative process. The space is revealed little by little, building an emotional narrative between the place and those who inhabit it Architect Thiago Bernardes House with an area of 434 m2.

Because of San Pablo’s warm climate, outdoor spaces become important when designing a project with these characteristics.Pedro Cook

“This living process has given the entire classes and, above all, the soul. The result is a unique and welcoming atmosphere, where each piece tells its own story. “It was a project to listen to place, people and time.” story Camila TariqiResponsible for interior design.

An outdoor kitchen with an innovative design that combines function and nature, turning the cooking process into an outdoor experience.Pedro Cook

In the large gallery there is a granite countertop with sink, stove and storage space: ideal for entertaining at home.

The outdoor gallery connects the interior and nature: the wooden roof and metal structure generate visual continuity, while the linear furniture and integrated plants enhance the feeling of openness and comfort.Pedro Cook

The social spaces of the house are located on the ground floor, while the private spaces are located on the upper floor.. In their design, the architects sought to ensure that both the interior and exterior areas were equally beautiful Fully integrated.

The architects chose an open and flexible design that blurs the boundaries between inside and outside.Pedro Cook

For architects, Customer trust was essential. There was no final delivery and everything was ready: the pieces arrived, were tested and found their place. Some stayed, others didn’t.

Each piece has been specially selected by Bernardes Arquitetura’s team of architects and interior designers.Pedro Cook

“Each piece was carefully selected in markets, antique shops and design stores. Some were found by chance during travels, while others waited months to be found.”

Through the use of wood, they sought to create a feeling of warmth in different spaces.Pedro Cook

There is a granite floor in both the gallery and the living and dining room. Combined with mobile glass panels, they enhance the continuity and integrity of the environments.

On the sides, plants gently cover the parts and soften their hard lines, providing dynamism to the facade. Pedro Cook

“From the beginning, we thought about setting precise boundaries between the interior and exterior spaces to allow the house to fully open up to nature,” the architects said.

In its large gallery and garden, plants make their way, bringing the landscape closer to their owners and generating new and sensory spaces.Pedro Cook

he Landscapedesigned by Rodrigo Oliveira, was essential to creating the feeling of an urban oasis. The gardens are visually integrated with the galleries and terraceCreate a green frame surrounding the house.

On the top floor, a small office enjoys a sweeping view of the treetops and garden.Pedro Cook

“The house has a timeless design and with the landscaping I wanted to complement that essence, creating a comfortable atmosphere that integrates organically with the architecture,” Oliveira said.

Office with a warm and functional design: wood in the ceiling and furniture provides continuity and texture, while natural light promotes a harmonious environment.Pedro Cook

Next to the office, an uncovered area is being used A gym, meditation space or reading nook. “The design of the terrace emphasizes the idea of nature as a structural element of the project.”

Among the trees and partly covered, the terrace provides an intimate retreat for moments of concentration and tranquility. Pedro Cook

The northwest-facing suites have balconies built into the garden and enjoy uninterrupted views of the outside.

Most rooms are covered with Cumaru wood floors, which provide warmth and are harmoniously complemented by carpentry and natural fabrics.Pedro Cook

A white fiberglass structure surrounds the upper deck like Light skin to filter light and scenery, Create shifting shadows that provide movement and texture.

The façade includes a maksarabi grid, a traditional Arab resource historically used to control light and temperature in hot climates.Pedro Cook

this A contemporary reinterpretation of the word “maksarabi” (Traditional Arabic grids) not only protect the house, but also connect it to its surroundings, turning the architecture into a backdrop where life unfolds naturally.

Adapted to the tropical context of Brazil, the mesh filters intense solar radiation, enhances ventilation and provides privacy, integrating design, function and climatic comfort in dialogue with the vegetation.Pedro Cook