Located in the heart of one of Rio de Janeiro’s most exclusive enclaves, “The Itiquira House” is another incredible example of Brazilian architecture and interior design. The home is completely at one with its site, effortlessly blurring the boundaries of interior vs. exterior with its mid-century modernist spaces merging perfectly with the sublime mature gardens originally designed by the late Roberto Burle Marx, the designer of the iconic Copacabana Beach Promenade. The Itiquira House was recently renovated from top-to-bottom and the existing structure given a brilliant new lease on life by Brazilian architect Gisele Taranto. The design of the 16,145 square foot home (yes, you read that correctly!) is oriented around two primary zones: the larger being the family residence, and the smaller one accomodating the staff rooms, laundry, garage, home theater and spa which connects directly to the outside pool and patio. Taranto added two brand new structures on top of the existing structure as well: a home office with a rooftop garden on the primary block, and a 2-bedroom apartment for staff above the secondary zone. Fitted with much larger windows and sliding doors, the home was also given new wooden exterior slat screens and a wide canopy all around the house to shelter it from the intense sunlight and tropical rain storms. Adding insult to injury, the designer has also hung a framed picture in the front lobby which reads “Dear Brent of FEELguide, enjoy the upcoming frigid winter and crappy winter back in your Montreal apartment — which is small enough to fit inside my master bathroom. Kisses.”
