After discovering a countryside home designed by Gilda Meirelles, the owners hired the firm to expand the leisure and service areas. The result is a 1,300 m² project where the integration between new and existing structures is so seamless that it becomes imperceptible.

The owners of this house, which has a beautiful view of the lake and the forest in Quinta da Baroneza, in Brazil, have always been fans of Gilda Meirelles Arquitetura's work. When they found a ready-made residence designed by the firm—originally tailored for another resident who eventually had to move—they fell in love at first sight.

Over time, the large family began visiting the house more frequently—on weekends, holidays, and vacations—and realized they needed more space to accommodate everyone comfortably, including occasional guests. To address this, they purchased additional neighboring plots, expanding the total area to 1,300 m².

The new plan focused on expanding and refining the garden and leisure areas, now enriched with a beach tennis court complete with a support area, a game lounge, and a home theater. The service areas were also upgraded, incorporating a new kitchen, a dedicated breakfast room, and staff accommodation. In the pool section, all surfaces and finishes—worn down over time—were fully renovated. Furthermore, a new suite was added at the homeowners' request, designed with sliding wooden brise-soleil doors that open directly to a stunning view of Baroneza Lake.

As part of the renovation strategy, the land was reshaped to create a new entrance, only made possible by the expanded property. The terrain's natural slope was cleverly utilized to conceal the garage beneath the new beach tennis court.

Designed as a countryside retreat from city life, the landscaping—crafted with great expertise by Alex Hanazaki— plays a key role in highlighting the architecture.

Since the original project was designed by the same firm and the owners were highly pleased with it, the architects preserved its style while modernizing the finishes and incorporating new coverings and structural elements. The color palette, wooden framing, and stone cladding were carefully curated to harmonize with the natural surroundings, ensuring a fluid connection between the architecture, the countryside, the forest, and the broader landscape.

The greatest challenge—which ultimately became its greatest strength—was seamlessly integrating the old project with the new. The most striking feature is how the house appears to have been designed as a single, cohesive project, making it nearly impossible to distinguish between the original structure and the newly added elements.