Casa PLR by André Becker

Presented by Hunter Douglas

_project: Casa PLR
_architecture: André Becker
_location: São Paulo, Brazil

Architecture has the power to be a sensory refuge, providing spaces that offer flexibility while balancing privacy and visual openness. In projects where nature takes center stage, the lines between indoor and outdoor environments blur, creating an atmosphere that fosters both serenity and contemplation. The Casa PLR designed by André Becker offers its inhabitants a sanctuary that is deeply integrated with its surroundings. Through thoughtful design, the Casa PLR achieves a balance between personal privacy and a deep visual connection to the landscape.

Originally designed in the 1970s, the Casa PLR was reimagined through a renovation and expansion that amplified its connection to the surrounding natural environment. According to André Becker, “The house has always maintained a permanent integration with nature.” This connection is originally from the original design by Irene Ruchti, which featured visual access to the Morumbi Forest and an internal patio that brought nature closer to the inhabitants. André’s intervention sought to transform the nature that once surrounded the house into an integral part of it, enveloping it on all sides. “What the renovation allowed was for nature to no longer be something isolated, but to embrace the house entirely,” he notes.

The house's location on a sloping plot played an important role in the design. André explains how the site's geography enabled a balance between openness and privacy. “The terrain slopes downward, allowing the house to develop below street level, discreetly hidden from view,” André says. This topography, combined with the distance to the forest, ensures that the house can be open to the landscape without compromising the residents' privacy. "Visually, there’s no intrusion because of the height difference and the natural separation created by the surrounding houses and the valley below."

Another key design consideration was the positioning of windows and openings to maximize the view while managing solar exposure. André explains that the northwest-facing facade posed a challenge due to strong afternoon sunlight. “The use of structural overhangs to generate shaded areas, along with recessed spaces and solar screens, allowed for this openness while maintaining comfort,” André says. This careful attention to both the environment and the practical needs of the inhabitants ensures that the Casa PLR remains a place of refuge, where nature and architecture coexist seamlessly.

This project’s sense of comfort is subtly reinforced through the use of Hunter Douglas products, including blackout curtains that precisely modulate light and privacy. More than a technical solution, the choice contributes to the atmosphere of calm and control that defines the spatial experience.

_product: blackout curtains
_Brand: Hunter Douglas

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_article written by Daniela Moreira da Silva
_film by Architecture Hunter
_cover and image scroll by Leonardo Finotti

_drawings by André Becker

1. Ground Floor Plan

2. First Floor Plan

3. Second Floor Plan

4. Underground Floor Plan

5. Implantation

6. Section

7. Section

8. Section

9. Elevation

10. Axonometric