“Engineering marvel meets family home” might describe Parque Gerassi. The story of this place starts not with sprawling gardens but with architectural innovation. This is more than just a park it is a testament to a unique approach to home design.
Parque Gerassi is located in Santo André. It offers a blend of urban living and community spirit. While the surrounding area boasts bustling streets such as Rua Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Rua Pinto Aleixo, Rua Agamenon Magalhães, and Rua Magalhães Barata, the park itself provides a tranquil escape. Residents here enjoy convenient access to bus lines. They appreciate the proximity to other desirable neighborhoods like Campestre, Parque das Nações, Jardim, Centro, and Vila Valparaíso.
The Gerassi House within Parque Gerassi stands as an architectural statement. Paulo Mendes da Rocha designed it in 1991. The house challenges conventional construction. It uses prefabricated concrete in an innovative way.
The concept was to defy the preconceptions. Prefabrication is not just for low-income housing. Nor is it exclusively for large-scale projects. The client was an engineer. This helped in the approval process. Budget, practicality and speed were key considerations.
The house features a distinctive design. The main living area is elevated. This creates a ground-level space for leisure. Only the staircase and pool support structures interrupt this open area. Later, a volume with diagonal orange walls was added.
Six square pillars support the house. These are placed along the building’s sides. Transversal beams connect these pillars in pairs. These beams also support the floor of the main level. Three more beams above align with the first set. These structure the roof slab. Eight additional beams connect the ends of the other beams in pairs. This visually separates the pillars from the building’s volume. The main structure was assembled in just two and a half days.
One of the corner pillars extends upward. It supports a cubic water tank. Inside, the house is organized around a square skylight. This skylight is placed without concern. It acts like a horizontal grate. It sits in the middle of the living and dining area. This aligns with the simple hydraulic tiles of the floor.
There are no hallways in the Gerassi House. Three en-suite bedrooms open directly into the living area. The living areas face northeast. The bedrooms face southwest. The kitchen and service area are next to the main living area. The staircase separates them. The staircase is also lit from above. The layout and functional distribution are simple. This mirrors the house’s structure.
Parque Gerassi presents a fusion. It combines architectural innovation with community living. It shows how design can redefine urban spaces. The Gerassi House stands as a testament. It reflects creative vision and practical engineering.