Isay Weinfeld's 111 House in São Paulo, wrapped in planted terraces

Isay Weinfeld designed 111 House in São Paulo for a family who collect contemporary art, and the brief shows: the neutral palette and clean geometry are meant to let the house work as a gallery for their pieces. On a tight urban plot, the building is pushed against its left boundary, leaving a deep garden strip running the full length of the right side. Living rooms, the breakfast room and the upstairs bedrooms all open on to it, so light and air move through every level. At the back, a setback creates a sunken lightwell court that brings daylight down into the basement.

The detail you notice first is the greenery. A continuous band of planters wraps every floor slab, from the front entrance up to the rooftop terrace and pool. Landscape architect Rodrigo Oliveira avoided the broad-leaved tropical plants you might expect in Brazil, choosing wind-resistant, cold-climate species with fine foliage and plenty of flowers. As they grow, they spill over the concrete edges, filtering light and giving privacy without closing the house off.

On the northwest side, concrete fins jut out at different depths to shade rooms from the afternoon sun and divide up the spaces inside. It is a private home, so this one is for looking at in pictures, a good study in making a city house feel like a garden.

Our summary of a story from designboom, published 19 October 2026. Read the original

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