Tucked into a quiet cul-de-sac near São Paulo’s Ibirapuera Park, Casa MA, designed by RUA 141 arquitetura, proves that constraint can be a powerful design catalyst. With just 13 feet of frontage and a depth of just under 60 feet, the narrow lot might suggest compromise. Instead, the house unfolds as a layered, light-filled retreat shaped by movement, materials, and nature integration.
The home belongs to a young, professional couple whose daily life revolves around training, work, and hanging with friends. Both triathletes, they wanted a place that felt physically attuned to their lifestyle – open, flexible, and seamlessly connected to the outdoors – while still offering warmth and room to grow into family life. When an opportunity arose to purchase a small, attached house on a rare dead-end street, they traded the familiarity of renting nearby for the challenge of starting fresh.
The original structure fell short of their needs. Dark interiors, low ceilings, and heavy concrete stairs fractured what little space existed. Rather than retrofit limitations, architect Mona Singal of RUA 141 proposed a full rebuild, retaining only the shared brick walls on either side. Time was also a factor: construction began as the couple prepared to welcome their first child, adding urgency to every decision.
A steel structure became the backbone of the new house, chosen for its speed, precision, and reduced impact on the tight site. From this framework emerged a 1,453-square-foot residence organized across three levels and split into two volumes, bridged by metal walkways for connection.
At the heart of the plan is a small garden anchored by a native araçá tree. The green core draws daylight into the interior and encourages cross-ventilation across the narrow footprint. Bedrooms look inward toward its foliage, creating a sense of retreat that feels surprising given the density of the surrounding neighborhood.
The ground floor operates as a continuous social space. Living, dining, and kitchen areas flow together, united by a long concrete element that shifts function as it moves through the space – bench, shelf, bike display, and countertop. The couple’s bicycles are not hidden away but mounted prominently with easy access, a main request from the couple, treated as sculptural objects that speak directly to the identity of the people that live there.
Material contrasts define the home’s character. Exposed black steel columns and beams set an industrial tone, echoed by visible electrical conduits and track lighting. The rawness is softened by warm wood surfaces: herringbone-patterned tauari floors, freijó frames, and custom millwork that introduces texture and tactility. White painted brick walls, revealed by stripping away plaster, reference the site’s original construction while reflecting light throughout the interior.
Ascending the folded metal staircase – its perforated railings allowing light to pass freely – the first floor shifts toward privacy. Here, bedrooms are linked by a linear corridor illuminated from above by a skylight that captures frames views of the sky. Floor-to-ceiling wooden doors heighten the sense of verticality, subtly expanding the perceived proportions of the compact plan.
Bathrooms lean into a handcrafted aesthetic, combining cement finishes with hydraulic tiles in soft hues. Skylights provide both daylight and natural ventilation, reinforcing the house’s passive strategies while creating a calm, almost spa-like atmosphere.
The rooftop becomes the project’s most unexpected delight. Reached through a motorized glass-and-metal enclosure that floods the stairwell with light, this level hosts an outdoor kitchen and lounge wrapped in planters. Despite being surrounded by neighboring buildings, the space feels sheltered, like an elevated garden the family can escape to.
For more information on Casa MA by RUA 141 arquitetura, please visit rua141.com.
Photography by Fran Parente.
