Casa da Beta – A Warm, Integrated Urban Home Transformation in Porto Alegre

A Vibrant Renovation by Atelier Aberto Arquitetura

Located in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Casa da Beta is a thoughtful architectural renovation by Atelier Aberto Arquitetura, transforming a compact 65 m² urban home into a luminous, fluid, and personality-driven living environment. Led by architects Renata Beck, Rafael Guadagnini, and Juliana Senna, the project reimagines the ground floor of a narrow house, turning constraints into opportunities for creativity, comfort, and connection.

Captured beautifully by photographer Gabriel Konrath, the renewed home reflects its owner, Beta—an energetic, social, and spiritually attuned woman who values gatherings, personal wellness, and a deeply expressive living space.

Reinterpreting a Narrow Urban Plot

Many dense Brazilian cities feature homes with narrow frontages pressed between neighboring buildings. Casa da Beta exemplified this urban typology: limited natural light, compartmentalized layouts, and outdated finishes created a ground floor that felt disconnected and underutilized. The living room functioned more as a passageway than a meaningful social space, while the kitchen—despite previous updates—felt isolated within the flow of the house.

Atelier Aberto Arquitetura approached these limitations with a clear goal: to create an open, cohesive, comfortable ground floor reflective of Beta’s lifestyle and emotional energy.

Opening the House to Light, Air, and Life

A transformative architectural intervention involved rethinking the front façade. Previously defined by small frosted windows and angled walls, the façade restricted both daylight and visual connection to the outdoors.

The architects replaced these undersized openings with large windowed doors, dramatically improving:

• Natural light penetration
• Cross-ventilation
• Indoor-outdoor continuity
• Visual connection with the front garden

This design move also redefined the front yard, once mainly used for parking, into an inviting semi-public extension of the social living space. Sunlight floods the interior, supporting Beta’s yoga practice and her love for warm communal spaces.

Materiality That Grounds, Warms, and Connects

Material choices play a vital role in defining spatial identity across the integrated ground floor:

Warm Wood Parquet in the Living Room

Replacing the cold gray porcelain with natural wood parquet instantly transformed the living room into a cozy, textured environment suited for relaxation, socializing, and daily rituals.

Terracotta Hydraulic Tiles in the Kitchen and Dining Area

Rich, earthy terracotta tiles introduce cultural depth and a vibrant personality—echoing Beta’s dynamic spirit and complementing the lively social atmosphere the renovation fosters.

The decision to retain and rearrange existing furniture demonstrates a sustainable approach, preserving emotional value while supporting the renewed spatial logic.

A Continuous Cabinet That Unifies the Entire Space

A signature element of the renovation is the bespoke full-length cabinet designed as a unifying architectural thread. Running along one wall of the integrated layout, this custom piece:

• Functions as TV and media storage
• Incorporates built-in seating
• Provides ample bookshelves and display niches
• Integrates into the kitchen as countertops and storage
• Serves as a visual and organizational anchor
• Houses an integrated heater fireplace, adding warmth and a comforting focal point

This multifunctional element seamlessly connects the living, kitchen, and dining areas, reinforcing continuity while enhancing everyday practicality.

A Ground Floor That Reflects Life, Energy, and Connection

Casa da Beta is more than a renovation—it is a sensitive architectural translation of its owner’s personality. The rejuvenated ground floor is now:

• Bright, airy, and welcoming
• Flexible for daily yoga practice
• Open for entertaining friends and family
• Coherent in layout and material palette
• Infused with Beta’s cultural and emotional identity

The project successfully turns a once-fragmented plan into a fluid living environment that adapts to moments of solitude, social vibrancy, and personal well-being.

All photographs are works of Gabriel Konrath