June 10, 2026 | DESIGN & INTERIORS
LIVING AROUND a SPIRAL STAIRCASE
words YUZU Editorial
photos Douglas Friendman
In São Paulo, Dado Castello Branco Arquitetura approaches vertical living with unusual calm. Designed for a family of five, the 1,200-square-metre CM Residence responds to the constraints of a narrow urban plot by spreading daily life across four interconnected levels. Yet despite its scale, the house never feels stacked or overly formal. Instead, spaces unfold gradually, with a quiet sense of continuity running throughout.
A HOUSE WITHOUT A FORMAL ENTRANCE
Rather than introducing the house through a conventional entrance sequence, the architects centre the experience around a sculptural spiral staircase wrapped in finely crafted woodwork. Positioned within a light-filled atrium, it becomes more than a circulation element — acting as the architectural anchor of the residence and establishing a softer rhythm between floors. Moving through the house feels fluid and intuitive, shaped less by corridors and thresholds than by openness, light and shifting perspectives.
On the ground floor, social spaces extend directly into gardens designed by Isabel Duprat. Fully recessed window frames blur the line between interior and exterior, allowing greenery and daylight to move naturally through the home. In a city as dense as São Paulo, the effect is surprisingly calm and expansive.
MATERIALITY AND EVERYDAY LIVING
Material choices remain restrained throughout the residence. Natural wood, stone surfaces and muted tones create a quiet backdrop for the family’s art collection and curated design pieces, while avoiding any sense of excess. The upper floors accommodate the private living quarters, while the top level is dedicated to wellness, with spaces for a gym and spa.
Balancing architectural precision with a more relaxed residential atmosphere, CM Residence reflects the studio’s integrated approach to architecture, interiors and landscape — one shaped through movement, materiality and the rhythms of everyday life rather than spectacle alone.
