House 111: Calm Neutrals and Light Shape a Courtyard Family Home
House 111 sits in Curitiba, Brazil, with a renewed modern presence by Rafaela Bender Arquitetura e Interiores. The house underwent a complete overhaul, aligning a crisp new facade with calm, cohesive interiors. Inside, a restrained palette and measured detailing anchor day-to-day life while the courtyard and pool draw light through generous glazing.
A quiet courtyard frames the approach, its pale stone underfoot leading to water and a bright, rectilinear volume. Light slides through tall glazing and sheer curtains, casting soft shadows across the patio and into the rooms beyond.
This is a house in Curitiba by Rafaela Bender Arquitetura e Interiores, reworked inside and out. The overhaul ties a modern, layered facade to interiors tuned by a neutral palette and tactile finishes. Every move serves daily rhythm—circulation, gathering, and rest—guided by tone, texture, and measured light.
Calibrate The Facade
A deeply framed upper level sets the composition, with a rhythmic brise-soleil panel balancing full-height glazing. The patio below pairs a pale stone terrace with a compact pool, while sliding doors and curtains modulate privacy and brightness. Clean lines meet soft screens, turning the exterior into a filter rather than a wall.
Open Living Sequence
Inside, the ground floor flows from lounge to dining to kitchen without fuss. A large, light-gray sectional anchors conversation, backed by a low console and a TV wall of slim vertical slats and a floating shelf that keeps surfaces light. Tones stay quiet, letting daylight wash across broad tiles and stitched upholstery.
Quiet Kitchen Workline
Matte cabinetry runs in clean planes, meeting a bright window above the sink: the work zone stays clear and efficient. A stainless dishwasher punctuates the run, and a slim hanging rail brings a touch of green near the peninsula with upholstered stools. Wood wraps selected columns and millwork, warming the neutral field without adding visual weight.
Stair And Thresholds
The stair lifts from broad marble treads with a glass balustrade, sitting beside generous planters that soften the turn. Curved soffits and a crisp landing deepen the sense of passage, guiding movement from social rooms to quieter quarters. Materials repeat at each threshold to keep the sequence legible.
Rooms For Rest
Bedrooms continue the pale scheme with layered textiles and low, upholstered seating. One room threads warm wood across wall and ceiling, forming a calm niche beside a round mirror, while artwork and soft throws give color with restraint. Baths follow suit, pairing a marble vanity and ribbed oval basin with a glass-enclosed shower and high clerestory light.
Evening returns the focus to the courtyard. Curtains glow, the pool reflects the sky, and the long frame of the facade reads as a single calm gesture. The renovation lands on balance—cool light, warm textures, and rooms that breathe.
Photography by Guilherme Rocha de Oliveira
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