Float House

Sergio Sampaio Archi + Tectônica

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Float House is a minimal residence located in São Paulo, Brazil, designed by Sergio Sampaio Archi + Tectônica. Designed with a minimalist aesthetic, the architecture of Float House emphasizes neutrality. The building’s planes capture sunlight, tree shadows, and reflections from the water mirror and swimming pool, integrating the structure with its surroundings. The design balances opposites such as stability and suspension, weight and lightness, and opacity and transparency. The architecture subtly highlights these contrasts, with the physical structure acting as a backdrop while the interplay of light and shadow takes center stage. The spaces within are revealed gradually, creating a tactile and visual journey through varying light and dark, solid and transparent elements.

The access ramp and staircases, suspended one meter above the water mirror, enhance the residents’ experience and movement. The spacious living area opens to the rear patio, with internal spaces connected by sliding components like brise soleil, partition doors, and aluminum frames. These elements allow for diverse configurations and dynamic facades facing the garden. Art and architecture converge with the use of hydraulic tiles by Brazilian artist João Nitsche, covering the garage access façade and the opposite living room wall. The geometric design of the tiles evokes the building’s floating concept, adding dynamism to both interior and exterior spaces.

Materials were chosen for their thermal and acoustic insulation properties, ensuring optimal climatic performance. The structural system features metal beams and pillars, while the upper floor slabs, roof, and internal walls are constructed from cross-laminated wood panels made of treated Pinus. Natural light and ventilation are facilitated by crystal glass domes in the bathrooms and sliding aluminum frames with anti-UV laminated glass. Electrical and plumbing installations are neatly housed between the plaster ceiling and CLT panel slabs, with maintenance shafts distributed throughout the building. Technical gutters run horizontally under the floor slab in the basement void.

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