House 258 is a completed residence in São Roque, São Paulo, designed by Cornetta Arquitetura around a steep site and two contrasting outlooks: an open valley and existing woodland. Its defining construction move is a substantial concrete-and-stone lower level that retains the slope, with a lighter metal-and-wood pavilion above.
How the house responds to its site
The architects describe a steeply sloped lot with a grove they sought to preserve. The house opens toward the sunset and valley on one side, while its opposite aspect faces shaded forest. This is the architects’ stated design response; the published project descriptions do not establish a measured ecological impact.
Rather than treating the slope as a flat building platform, the design uses a lower level that is visible from the front and functions as a retaining wall. The arrangement places garage and support spaces in this heavier base, with the principal living pavilion above it.
How the structure and materials are organized
Concrete-and-stone base
Exposed concrete and split stone give the lower level a visually weighty character suited to its retaining role. It accommodates the garage and support spaces and anchors the house against the sloping ground.
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Metal-and-wood pavilion
A slender upper volume in metal and wood contrasts with the masonry-like base. Access to this level is by a stair set amid concrete and glass. The contrast is both material and spatial: the lower level meets the terrain, while the upper pavilion holds the main residential rooms above it.
How the floor plan separates private and social areas
The upper floor is a rectangular volume divided by charred-pine panels into private and social zones.
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- Private zone: Three suites and an office, oriented primarily toward the forest.
- Social zone: Living, dining, and kitchen spaces combined in one area, with large floor-to-ceiling openings toward the grove and valley.
This layout gives the household distinct outlooks without separating everyday shared rooms into isolated compartments.
Project details and published area figures
| Detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| Project | House 258 (Casa 258), a residence in São Roque, São Paulo, Brazil |
| Architecture | Cornetta Arquitetura; ArchDaily identifies Pedro Cornetta as lead architect. The firm’s project page also names Renan Antiqueira and Luigi Borges on the architecture team. |
| Timing | Cornetta Arquitetura lists execution from 2022–2024. ArchDaily lists the project year as 2024 and publication date as October 9, 2025. |
| Built area | 415 m², according to Cornetta Arquitetura; 515 m², according to ArchDaily. The sources do not reconcile the difference. |
| Lot area | 1,850 m², according to Cornetta Arquitetura. |
| Photography | João Paulo Soares. |
The project credits list DRC Engenharia for the concrete structure, Grupo RP for the metal structure, Latar Engenharia for hydrosanitary and electrical projects, and Cazes for construction, according to the firm’s page. ArchDaily credits DRC Engenharia, Latar Engenharia, and Cazes.
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What the published descriptions establish—and what they do not
The project descriptions document the site strategy, material contrast, and room arrangement, but they do not provide measured energy savings, construction cost, carbon figures, or a quantified biodiversity outcome. The stated preservation of the grove should therefore be understood as an architectural intention, not as independently measured conservation performance.
Sources: Cornetta Arquitetura project page and ArchDaily project listing.
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