Tucked away on a quiet dead-end street near Ibirapuera Park, Casa MA feels like a hidden pause in the city. Designed by RUA 141 Arquitetura, this narrow house in São Paulo proves that tight spaces can still feel open, bright, and deeply livable.
The home belongs to a young couple of triathletes whose days revolve around training, work, and friends. They wanted a space that moved with them — flexible, connected to the outdoors, and warm enough to grow into family life. When they found this narrow house in São Paulo, they chose not to patch things up but to start over. The original structure was dark and closed off, so RUA 141 Arquitetura kept only the shared brick walls and rebuilt everything else.
A steel structure became the backbone of Casa MA, speeding up construction during a time when life was moving fast — the couple was also preparing for their first child. The house unfolds across three levels in two volumes, linked by metal walkways and organized around a small central garden. A native araçá tree sits at its heart, pulling light and air into every corner.
The ground floor is one continuous social space. Living, dining, and kitchen areas flow together, anchored by a long concrete element that doubles as seating, storage, and a bike display. In this modern Brazilian house, bikes aren’t hidden — they’re part of the story.
Raw steel, exposed conduits, and white brick give the home an industrial edge, softened by warm wood floors and custom details. Upstairs, skylights, quiet bedrooms, and simple bathrooms bring a calm close to Casa MA, making it a thoughtful example of a modern Brazilian house done right.
