4. Casa de Vidro (Glass House) , Lina Bo Bardi - by Camila Figueiredo

The Glass house.

           The Glass house was created by the Architect Lina Bo Bardi (1914-1992) in 1951. The Project was the first house in the neighbourhood of Morumbi, south part of Sao Paulo City, in Brazil. At the same period, the Glass House was developed by Phillip Johnson in Connecticut and the Farnsworth House, By Mies Van der Rohe in Illinois, both in United States.  The three projects have some similarities, like the large panes of glass and lightness of the structure. However, each project contrast individually.

View of the parking.

      Initially, the Glass House was home to Lina and her husband Pietro Maria Bardi. The intention of Lina was preserved the natural land, so she designed pilotis to support the house and to make the parking. The structure were built in slender tubes of steel and concrete. The principal access to the upper floor was conceived through the open stairs.      
           The house is divided in two portions. The first one is the social area, composed by dining and living rooms that sets the translucent space of the house, formed by large panes of glass. In this area, Lina maintained a tree in a courtyard that works as a climatic element. The second area is composed for dorms and service area, characterized as massive and opaque part.     
      In 1987, the Glass House was listed by the CONDEPHAAT (the CONDEPHAAT is a

Social Area.

Advice composed of representatives from various entities to discuss the processes relating to the cultural heritage) as a historical heritage of the state of São Paulo. The building is the headquarters of the “Instituto Lina Bo and Pietro Maria Bardi” and it gathers part of the art collection acquired by the couple throughout their lives.

First and Second floors.

Section showing the tree and the principal access.