Casa Itaúna by Siqueira + Azul Aquitetura

_project: Casa Itaúna
_architecture: Siqueira + Azul Arquitetura
_location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Working with existing buildings, particularly those shaped by modernist ideals, demands more than technical precision. It calls for a sensitive reading of architecture as a system of proportions, spatial relationships, and intentions that extend beyond form. As adaptation and reuse become increasingly central to architectural practice, the quality of an intervention is often measured by its ability to preserve identity while accommodating new ways of living. The most compelling transformations tend to be discreet, operating through restraint, clarity, and a deep understanding of what should remain unchanged.

Located in Rio de Janeiro, this residential intervention unfolds within a house conceived during a formative moment of Brazilian modernism. From the outset, the original character of the house is clearly legible. Its essential structure remains intact: distinct volumetric blocks, articulated segments, a strong sense of verticality, and a fluid internal circulation. Rather than redefining the architecture, the intervention works from within its existing logic, introducing adjustments that respond to contemporary life without disrupting the original spatial order.

Developed over four years, the design process allowed for careful study of the house and its architectural language. This resulted in the introduction of a limited number of new elements, each chosen for its capacity to integrate seamlessly with the existing structure. A built-in bench, large pivoting doors at ground level, and a precisely positioned oculus become key moments within the house, subtle architectural insertions that recalibrate how the space is experienced while remaining closely aligned with its original intent.

In the private areas, one of the most refined transformations involves the reinterpretation of a traditional brick cobogó wall. While visually identical to the original when closed, the wall can now be opened, allowing light, ventilation, and flexibility to enter the bedrooms. The intervention preserves the material and aesthetic presence of the cobogó while responding to present-day expectations of comfort and adaptability.

Vertical circulation was also reconsidered through a stair inspired by a characteristic typology of the surrounding residential complex. Designed as a continuous ribbon, the stair ascends into the architectural volume, leading to a lookout point with expansive views. By opening the lateral planes, the house strengthens its relationship with both the distant horizon and the surrounding vegetation.

A later expansion, enabled by the acquisition of a neighboring plot, introduced additional green space and gave the house a renewed sense of openness. Throughout the intervention, proportions, ceiling heights, and the careful articulation of light and shadow remain central, reinforcing an architectural language where spatial richness emerges through precision, continuity, and quiet transformation.

_article written by Daniela Moreira da Silva
_film by Architecture Hunter
_photos by André Nazareth

_drawings by Siqueira + Azul Arquitetura

1. drawings

2. floor plan

3. section