Clarice Debiagi Architecture and Urbanism: single-family residence, Punta del Este, Uruguay

Born in Warsaw, Poland, and raised in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, the architect at the head of Clarice Debiagi Arquitetura e Urbanismo has been living and working in Punta del Este, the famous Uruguayan seaside resort, for seven years, although she continues to carry out projects in Brazil. Her work, carried out in 2021 on a 4,000 square metre plot, is located in the department of Maldonado, more precisely in a gated community called Pueblo Mío, characterized by extensive estates permeated by lagoons and close to the Atchugarry Museum of Contemporary Art.

Clarice was commissioned to develop a modular, prefabricated house with functional architecture and a contemporary, sophisticated aesthetic. The architect had already worked on two other projects with the clients (a couple with a son currently studying in another country), who ended up becoming her friends.

Industrialized construction developed using the off-site method is common in Uruguay, as there are tax incentives from the government, according to the architect, unlike what happens in Brazil. The model offers several advantages, such as reduced construction time and waste, low impact on the land and greater cost control.

The clients wanted the house to have "personality" and not be just another standardized prefabricated building. In addition, the project had to be approved by the condominium administration, which demanded a masonry portion. Initially, the residence would have had about 140 square meters of built area and would only have been used on weekends, but it ended up being 517 square meters and became the couple's permanent home.

According to the architect, the first challenge was to "fit" the program of needs into the nine industrial modules (measuring 4x6 meters and 4x12 meters) that would make up the house. They were transported fully completed (including furniture, flooring, coverings and objects) over a distance of around 10 km to the site, by crane, and laid on footings (reinforced concrete blocks made on site).

One modular block per day had to be moved due to its complexity, which required a vehicle from the Ministry of Labor to accompany it to ensure safety, and the condominium's rules. "The modules are structured on a grid, which lands on the footings already arranged and calculated to receive each one," explains Clarice.

The steel frame structure (galvanized steel profiles) has thermal and acoustic insulation and is clad in wood panels, giving the building a more welcoming aesthetic. To increase the feeling of thermal comfort, the floors are heated, there are high-performance fireplaces, double-glazed windows and air conditioning for the summer.  

The internal spaces are permeated by green areas designed to promote natural light and ventilation, as well as less rigidity in the layout. The area consists of living and dining rooms, a barbecue area, a kitchen, a wine cellar, an office, an intimate living room and three suites. Next door, a masonry outbuilding was built, a structural technique also present in the dining room. Surrounding the house is a wooden deck with a pergola, designed to allow fluidity between inside and outside, as well as an infinity pool facing the lake (northwest-west orientation).

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Ceramic tiles

To give the bathroom walls a contemporary look with a retro feel, as well as low maintenance and high technical performance, the architect specified a ceramic tile from the Metrô series by Eliane Revestimentos. The product, one of the greatest successes of the Brazilian brand, is inspired by the vintage tiles of the world's largest subway stations.

With a 10x20 cm format, a type of "little brick", the tile allows for a variety of layouts, as well as a wide range of colors, making it a versatile and timeless product. In the Pueblo Mío house, the choice was to use white, with a glossy finish and a beveled design. This choice also gave the rooms more light and spaciousness.

This type of tile, known internationally as subway tile, has been sold by Eliane Revestimentos for years, with more than 15,000 points of sale throughout Brazil. According to the architect, Brazilian ceramic tile brands have a massive presence in Uruguay, with their products sold in all the big stores.

‍Photos1 and 2: The house designed by architect Clarice Debiagi has a wide connection to the outside and a privileged view of a lake

Photo 3: Built using the modular off-site method, the residence has a steel frame structure and wooden cladding

Photos 4 and 5: Only the outbuilding and dining room were built in masonry

Photo 6: The Metrô coating, by the Brazilian brand Eliane, was applied to the bathroom walls, allowing for a retro yet contemporary look

Photo 7: Practical maintenance and high performance are other characteristics of the coating