Praça House: Contemporary Courtyard Architecture in São Paulo by Felipe Hess Arquitetos

Praça House, designed by Felipe Hess Arquitetos, is a striking example of courtyard architecture in São Paulo. Built in 2023 on a narrow 10 x 60-meter plot in Jardim Paulistano, the residence redefines urban living through its integration of open courtyards, natural light, and carefully balanced materiality.

Spatial Organization and Design Concept

The house is structured in three interconnecting blocks, each separated by patios that foster openness, light, and ventilation. This layout not only maximizes the narrow site but also creates fluid transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces, enhancing both privacy and communal life.

The front block, facing the street, accommodates support functions such as the garage, laundry, office, and guest suite. The central block serves as the heart of daily activities, housing the kitchen, dining area, and bedrooms for the children. At the rear, the back block features the living room with a fireplace on the ground floor, while the upper floor contains the couple’s private suite.

Courtyard Living and Outdoor Integration

A defining feature of Praça House is its strong connection to outdoor living. The house opens into a garden with a pool, barbecue, sauna, and gym, all unified by a pergola and stone walls that frame lush vegetation. The courtyards act as extensions of the interiors, encouraging social interaction and offering moments of quiet retreat.

Materiality and Atmosphere

The project’s material palette emphasizes solidity and permanence, while creating a warm and welcoming home. Natural mineral-painted walls, Belgian oak flooring, and finely crafted wooden frames harmonize with custom-designed furniture and family heirlooms. Doors finished in suede and straw, along with bespoke woodworking, bring tactile richness that distinguishes each zone of the residence.

Landscaping and Nature Integration

Landscape architect Flávia Tiraboski designed the gardens with climbing plants and shaded areas that blur the boundaries between built form and nature. Vegetation becomes an integral part of the architectural experience, softening the stone and concrete surfaces while reinforcing the house’s identity as a long, quiet home centered on courtyards.

Praça House is more than a private residence; it is a thoughtful experiment in courtyard architecture in São Paulo, where architecture and landscape work seamlessly together. By blending functional zoning with carefully designed outdoor spaces, Felipe Hess Arquitetos has created a residence that is at once urban, timeless, and deeply connected to nature.

All Photographs are works of    Fran Parente