Title: Cicera
Year: 2008
Dimensions: Variable
Technique: remodeling house project
Place: São Paulo – Brasil

Remodeling
/ Take advantage of the former structure of the house, in order to minimize costs.
/ Recycle (such as the hand rail, which came from other worksites).
/ Prioritize revamping rather than the construction of new walls.
/ Use environmentally sustainable materials.
/ Optimize the intrinsic characteristics and resources of each space.
/ Valorize the view to the north of the city of São Paulo.

/ Internal area: 350 m2
/ External area: 244 m2

Adaptable-use areas
/ Creation of three spaces to serve either as artist studios or residential apartments.
/ Minimal finishing to make it easier for the user to reconfigure the space as needed.
/ Movable kitchen module in each space.
/ Two reservoirs for hot and cold water and sewer.
/ Electrical wiring is exposed to make eventual changes easier.

Space 1
/ Area: 116.6 m²
/ Double ceiling height

Space 2
/ Area: 84.5 m²
/ Free span without interference of walls.

Space 3
/ Area: 83.4 m²
/ Duplex

* Spaces 1 and 2 can be joined to form a single space with an area of 201.1 m².
** Removable stair between spaces 1 and 2.

Energy savings

Rainwater Harvesting
10,000 liters of rainwater are captured and stored in the reservoir under the house’™s parking area.
The water used in the garden, for cleaning, and in the toilets is obtained only from this rainwater.

Solar water heating
/ Water pumps, water tanks, solar water heating system are located on the two rooftop terraces.
/ Hot-water supply pipes are wrapped in thermal insulation to conserve heat.

Lighting
/ Natural lighting is sufficient during the day.
/ Artificial lighting: high-performance 3000-K T5 lamps.

Climatization
/ Natural ventilation makes air conditioning unnecessary.

Garden

Entrance
Aloe vera

Main corridor
hanging garden with epiphytes

Central patio
Etlingera elatior [torch ginger] and Callisia repens [creeping inchplant]

Second-floor terrace
Pachypodium lamerei (Drake) [Madagascar palm]

Space-2 bathroom
Pleomele reflexa [Malaysian dracaena]

Space-3 garden
Monstera deliciosa [monster fruit]

Rooftop areas
Aristolochia gigantea [Brazilian Dutchman’™s pipe] and Gibasis schiedeana [Tahitian bridal veil]