An oasis in the middle of the city This modernist gem in São Paulo, Brazil was originally designed in the late 1940s by Zenon Lotufo and recently underwent a ravishing renovation that includes an upper addition. With pristine white surfaces accented by luxuriant wood in parts, and windows covered in a geometric grid of iron grills, the otherwise minimalist four-bedroom, dubbed Casa CSF, boasts bold details that breathe new, contemporary life into the residence.
Helmed by architecture studio Felipe Hess, the renovation transformed the former one-story building with butterfly roof into a more hefty presence by expanding upward to include an office and home theater. A dramatic, curving marquee connecting the house to the brick garage surrounds a grassy yard, where a wall patterned with circular openings stands adjacent. The semi-covered area provides indoor-outdoor space and comprises a patio with fireplace, barbecue, and dining area. The crisp interiors are furnished with a range of midcentury pieces from designers like José Zanine Caldas, Eero Saarinen, and Sergio Rodrigues, while rich herringbone floors with contrasting woods complement dark paneling found on closet doors and elsewhere throughout the house.

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