Casa IV Centenário, a villa immersed in the attractive landscapes of the Brazil, spotlights the ideal combination of materials and design in the high-end residential sector, thanks to its contemporary structure and the detailed study of the surfaces.
The renovation of the building has been designed and curated by the architect Ricardo Rossi, by Ricardo Rossi Architecture and Interiors Studio, which reacted to the proposed challenge since its first stages - the building appeared deteriorated to a large extent and was walls, roof and flooring missing - designing and creating an environment with a minimalist and contemporary style. Another relevant issue for the aesthetic of the structure was also the landscape element, entrusted to Alex Hanazaki, famous Brazilian designer active in the landscaping segment, whose philosophy is rooted in modern and minimalist styles.
The simplicity and purity of lines, both inside and outside the structure, aim at using the (already wide) available space as best one can, so as to value its length. Moreover, following this concept, neutral and natural colors have been specially selected, both for furnishings, finishes and shelves.
In order to make the areas uniform and comply with the established schemes, the architect has therefore chosen Neolith® by TheSize, the Sintered Compact Surfaces brand, as key material for the complete renovation and restyling. The Iron Corten version has been used to reproduce an aged metal surface, so as to create a contrast of color between the sophisticated gray and the opaque white for the integration of the earth tones, present throughout the building.
The warmest Iron Collection model pleasantly warms up the atmosphere, thanks to its bright orange shades resembling the oxidation of iron.
Besides the visual qualities, its durability made architect Rossi chose Neolith: “We wanted a solid cladding surface with a high resistance to time and to the use of typical residential environments”.
The extremely resistant Satin finish of Iron Corten is a surface usually used for commercial spaces’ covering. The application of the matte finish within a residential project, besides the resistance to scratches and the Neolith modulus of rupture, have ensured the integrity of the project.
Hygienic, waterproof, easy to clean and 100% natural are the characteristics of the material that make the surface equally suitable for the laying in the kitchen, in the dining room and, as a result, also in the living room and in other rooms.
Moreover, the special resistance to high temperatures and UV rays makes it a more than suitable material for the scorching Brazilian climate, as Rossi says: “The open structure of the first floor - where the external space is connected to the internal living room – made necessary a coating material that does not deteriorate upon exposure to sun and high temperatures”.
The water absorption close to zero and the resistance to chemical detergents related to the large swimming pool – placed in the outer space connected to the inside - once again confirm that the potential exposure to the chlorine and water of the pool would have not undermined the integrity of the surface. Another need was then the availability of large versatile slabs, which had to be light and well manageable at the same time.
Therefore, Neolith was chosen for its specific weight of only 7 kg/m² and 30 kg m² respectively to 3 mm and 12 mm thicknesses, for sizes ranging from 3200x1500 to 3600x1200 mm, with the possibility of adding tailored parts, thus proving to be convenient also in terms of costs and fixing times.
The environmental sustainability was a further issue: in fact, Ricardo Rossi Architecture and Interiors Studio always employs ecological materials. For the Casa IV Centenário project, the production procedures of The Size and Neolith, 100% recyclable, fit perfectly the planned approach.
