Project: Toque Toque House
Architecture: Nitsche Arquitetos
Year: 2022
Location: São Sebastião, São Paulo, Brazil
Photos: Andre Scarpa and Pedro Mascaro
Lighting: Elaine Pires
Sampling plan: Sondap Sondagens à Percussão ltda
Structure (Wood): Ita Engenharia
Structure (Concrete): Stec Engenharia
Foundation: Solosfera
Eletric: Ramoska e Castellani
Hydraulic: Ramoska e Castellani
Construction: Tecnomar Engenharia SS
Set on a sloped site in the Atlantic Forest of São Sebastião, the house was designed as a flexible summer residence with a laminated timber structure and thermoacoustic roof, rising to the treetop level to offer panoramic views of the sea and surrounding nature. The design prioritizes privacy and integration with the outdoors, featuring external circulation and well-ventilated, sunlit spaces, inviting residents to experience the beauty of the Brazilian coast.
©Pedro Mascaro
Nestled on a steep slope amidst a lush tropical forest, the house in Toque-Toque House was designed to be a simple, flexible, and easy-to-build construction and serve as a summer residence on São Sebastião, on São Paulo’s coast. Completed in 2022 with Nitsche Arquitetos architecture, this summer residence was placed transversely to the slope, projecting the house towards the sea, and placing it at the treetop’s height.
©Pedro Mascaro
To deal with the irregular topography, a concrete basement connecting the lot entrance to the pool area was created. Under the basement, there is a small terrace and above it, the house was built using a laminated timber structure. Spanning a total area of 240 m², the architectural design features seven structural portals creating six modules with three suites, a laundry, a social bathroom, and a living room with an integrated kitchen. The roof was built using thermoacoustic industrial tiles with generous eaves surrounding and protecting the entire construction.
Positioned transversely to the slope, the house elevates to the height of the treetops, offering panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, Toque-Toque Island, and Toque-Toque beach. The layout prioritizes both privacy and interaction with the surroundings. The house’s social area, such as the kitchen and living room, faces the pool overlooking the sea and the bedrooms face the beach, on the opposite side. This way, the bedrooms remain more private, and all 180 degrees are used on both sides of the house.
©Andre Scarpa
Circulation within the house is exclusively external, being sheltered only by the 1.20 m eaves. All bedrooms and the laundry open to the outside, creating well-lit and ventilated independent rooms, which ensures flexibility of use and keeps the construction more compact and simpler. The Toque-Toque house was, therefore, the opportunity to design an architecture of industrial, fast, and efficient construction that, by its position in the plot, guarantees intense integration with the nature and with the beautiful landscape, inviting residents to experience the beauty of the Brazilian coast.
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