ARQBR weaves open space into Couri House in Brasília

Architecture firm ARQBR has completed a family house in Brasília that features a ribbon-shaped plan and a central courtyard with a swimming pool.

The Couri House sits on a 713-square-metre plot within a residential neighbourhood in Brazil's capital city. The property features a single Pequi tree – a protected species that is native to the region.

ARQBR built Couri House in Brasília

Adjacent to the lot is non-buildable, public green space with a newly planted forest.

It is within this context that local firm ARQBR was tasked with designing a small, single-storey home with lots of open space for a five-member family.

The dwelling is roughly Z-shaped in plan

The architects conceived a low-lying, 340-square-metre dwelling that is roughly Z-shaped in plan and stretches nearly the depth of the site.

This configuration allowed for a large, internal patio with a swimming pool and enabled the preservation of the Pequi tree, which sits in the centre of the property.

ARQBR configured the project with an internal patio featuring a swimming pool

"The solution was to launch a ribbon-shaped plan that develops around the lot, adjusting to its perimeter and forming voids integrated with gardens and with the occupation of the house itself," the firm said.

"Due to the limited land area, it was challenging to distribute the entire program of needs on a single floor, preserving the existing 'pequizeiro' tree, and still configure qualified unbuilt spaces."

The home has a concrete structural system

The home has a concrete structural system, with average spans of five metres. Walls are made of ceramic block masonry that was painted white.

On the front facade, an absence of windows conceals what lies within the dwelling. The garage and front entrance are marked with honey-toned wood.

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The interior layout has a clear separation between shared and private spaces.

The front portion encompasses a garage, living room, kitchen and dining area. The back wing holds a media room and four bedrooms, each with their own bathroom.

A kitchen and dining area is located in the front portion

The owners must pass through the central patio to reach the two different zones.

"The distribution of the spaces and their relationships promote unusual paths through the house, for it is natural to walk through an open space to reach a closed one," the team said.

ARQBR weaved open space into the project

"In this way, everyday life experiences this relationship of continuity between inside and outside – and through it, contact with nature and the sky."

Other projects in Brasília include a concrete home by Debaixo do Bloco Arquitetura that has light wells and an angular roof, and an all-white home by Bloco Arquitetos that is composed of irregularly stacked boxes.

The photography is byJoana França.

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Grassy courtyard forms heart of Brazilian house by Shieh Arquitetos

Shieh Arquitetos Associados has organised this residence in Brazil around a lush courtyard so that its residents can "step onto grass from the bedrooms".

The Courtyard House for Two Boys was completed for a family with young sons in Vinhedo, a city roughly one hour's drive from São Paulo. The family needed to remain close to the city, but wanted a calmer environment where they could spend the majority of their time.

Rooms surround a grassy central area at Courtyard House for Two Boys

"Completed shortly before the pandemic, the house became a universe for parents and children," said Shieh Arquitetos Associados, a studio based in São Paulo.

A central courtyard is the organising element of the home, and is surrounded by standalone structures that contain the home's living and dining rooms, bedrooms, and pool.

Living spaces open directly onto the courtyard

"The courtyard, central to everyone, is the spirit of the place," said the architects. "From all rooms, rain can be seen watering the singular yellow Ipe."

"On a sunny day, one can see the children playing in the garden," they added.

Glass partitions slide back to seamlessly connect outside and in

Besides a mezzanine in the living and dining room, the 400-square-metre home is laid out on a single level.

"With young children, the preference was for a single-story house, where one could step onto grass from the bedrooms," explained Shieh Arquitetos Associados.

Separate blocks that frame the courtyard are linked by a planted roof

The residence occupies a corner lot, and is accessed via a short flight of exterior stairs that leads to a covered terrace links directly with the courtyard.

The living areas and pool frame either side of the central outdoor area, while three bedrooms at the back of the property also face onto the grass.

Concrete blocks are left exposed through the interiors

Each of these rooms has tall sliding glass doors that open to courtyard, creating continuity between the home's interior and exterior spaces.

Although each of these volumes is separate, they share a roof that runs continuously around the perimeter of the home.

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Plenty of plants atop this concrete slab help reinforce the courtyard's lush feeling.

There is also a terrace on the upper level that is accessible through the mezzanine in the living and dining room.

A swimming pool occupies one of the standalone volumes

"With the creation a mezzanine, a double-height ceiling is established in the living room – which receives shading of a wooden screen on the face of the patio," said Shieh Arquitetos Associados.

"In terms of materiality, an austere palette has the aspiration that the construction can get better with the passage of time," it continued.

An upper floor terrace is accessible via a staircase in the living area

The structural concrete blocks, concrete beams, and panelised slabs were all left exposed.

"The finishes follow the same thinking: flooring is either hardwood or Portuguese mosaic stones," said the architects.

The house sits on a corner lot in Vinhedo, near São Paulo

Shieh Arquitetos Associados was founded in 1976 by Shieh Shueh Yau. It is now a family business, which he runs with Leonardo Shieh, Irene Shieh, and Kathia Shieh in São Paulo.

Other projects in and aroun the Brazilian city include an apartment by Julliana Camargo for a fashion editor that uses a vibrant color palette and a single-family home that Superlimão converted to accommodate a yoga studio, co-working space, and rental apartment for an entrepreneurial family.

The photography is by Leonardo Shieh.

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Project credits:

Architects: Shieh Arquitetos Associados (Leonardo Shieh, Shieh Shueh Yau, Irene Shieh, Victoria Mendes Ribeiro, Karen Minoda, Nathalia Grippa, Ricardo Azevedo, Rodrigo Chedid)

Structural engineering: WE Engenharia

MEP engineering: Infraenge

Landscape design: Regen Ecossistemas

Soil consultant: MG&A Consultores de Solo

Contractor: Reginaldo Carvalho

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Fig House by Stemmer Rodrigues appears supported by a natural rock formation

Large stones conceal a single column supporting the upper level of this concrete house near Porto Alegre, Brazil, configured to protect the roots of a centennial fig tree.

Designed by local architects Stemmer Rodrigues, the Casa Figueira – or Fig House – is a modernist-style concrete house in Eldorado do Sul, a residential community that sits across the Guaiaba Lake from Porto Alegre.

Fig House looks as if it is supported by natural stones

The home's main feature is the overhanging second floor, which defines the driveway and forms a passage through to the back yard.

This windowless concrete volume is made to appear as if supported by natural stones that contrast the facade's smooth finish.

Sliding glass walls offer views towards a nearby canal

This formation conceals a single column, which was placed to avoid disrupting the roots of a nearby fig tree that lends the house its name.

"The composition of the front facade is a harmony of contrasts between the rigidity of the concrete and the large rock that simulates the support of the volume and hides the pillar, paying homage to a strong element of the regional landscape," explained Stemmer Rodrigues.

The features minimal interiors to complement its modernist form

The only other elements visible on the facade are the front door, which is marked by a curved concrete wall, and the wooden garage door.

On the ground floor, Stemmer Rodrigues laid out an open-concept kitchen, living and dining room to face views of the tranquil waterfront beyond the edge of the property.

"The facade facing the street was designed to block the south wind, and the views are therefore turned to the opposite direction, maximising the contact with the canal water, energy efficiency, and privacy," the architects said.

Two sides of this volume are enclosed with full-height sliding glass walls. Immediately outside of them, an overhanging weathered steel canopy avoids the sun directly hitting the glazed surfaces.

Landscaping leads down to a boat dock on the canal

The upper level runs parallel to the waterfront, and contains four bedrooms. The north side of the home, facing away from the street, is clad in ipe – a traditional Brazilian wood prized for its vibrant colour and durability.

A few steps away from the main building is a pavilion containing a secondary kitchen and dining area. This stone building is slightly lower than the rest of the property and is fronted by a walkway leading to a boat launch.

The property's two pavilions face each other across the garden

Porto Alegre is the capital of the Brazilian province of Rio Grande do Sul. Other projects in the area include a house for a yoga teacher also by Stemmer Rodrigues, and a house for a car collector featuring a glass-bottomed pool that offers views of the garage below.

The photography is byMarcelo Donadussi.

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Superlimão converts single-family home for São Paulo couple's multiple uses

Brazilian architecture firm Superlimão has overhauled a large home in São Paulo, relocating the staircase to the facade and painting the front a deep shade of red.

The Yoga House project was completed for an enterprising couple that wanted to convert a portion of their home into a yoga studio, a co-working space and a rental bedroom, all on the same property.

Superlimão relocated the staircase during the renovation of the house

The original building was constructed in the 1990s and is located in Vila Madalena, a trendy area of São Paulo.

"[The] project had to accommodate a large room for classes, a reception area on the ground floor, a studio and co-working area on the top floor, and a room for rental in the old smaller house in the back," the team explained. On completion, the project encompasses an area of 310 square metres.

The red front of the house contrasts with a more muted palette behind

In order to create more room inside the house, the Superlimão team relocated the staircase to the front of the building, facing the street.

This allows separate access to visitors using the ground floor spaces and those going upstairs.

The new yoga studio features sliding screen doors

The steel structure was painted red, along with the rest of the exterior of the house.

By removing walls within the home as well as the staircase, Superlimão was able to bring much more light to the interiors.

The yoga studio and its associated functions occupy the ground floor, while the co-working area is found upstairs.

A formerly tiled area between the main home and the guest house was converted into a garden, giving yogis a view of the outdoors as they practice.

Yogis have a garden view while they practice

"The ceramic tiles of the outdoor area were replaced by a garden with relaxation areas, featuring an architectural style that conveys a calm and soothing environment, with a more neutral and cosy colour palette and natural elements," explained Superlimão.

The outside area is designed to be relaxing

"The light-colored walls and curved corners helped heighten the warm and welcoming feel of the environment," the team added.

A much more muted palette indoors contrasts the bright red facade, lending the spaces a bright and welcoming feeling.

The building accommodates a co-working space upstairs

Superlimão is based in São Paulo and has completed several other projects in the city, including the conversion of an old warehouse into a minimalist dental studio and a historic apartment in which vivid colors were combined with traditional building elements.

The photography is byIsrael Gollino.

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Project credits:

Team: Thiago Rodrigues, Lula Gouveia, Antonio Carlos Figueira de Mello, Inaiá Botura, Viviane Camilli

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Stemmer Rodrigues creates Anada House for yoga teacher in Brazil

A leafy tree rises up through a circular opening in this Brazilian residence and yoga studio, which was designed by the architectural office of Stemmer Rodrigues.

The 350-square-metre home is located near Guaíba Lake in Eldorado do Sul, a town in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.

The project's name, Anada House, stems from a term commonly used in Hinduism to refer to "supreme bliss."

Anada House acts as a residence and a yoga studio

"The choice directly refers to the owner's wish of transforming her house into a bright space to live in and to receive students for yoga and meditation classes," said Stemmer Rodrigues, which is based in the nearby city of Porto Alegre.

Situated on a rectangular, 600-square-metre plot, the house rises two levels. Exterior walls consist of concrete, glass and wood.

A circular opening in its roof canopy allows a tree to grow through

On the front elevation, a curved walkway passes under a concrete canopy supported by angled columns, which are meant to resemble tree trunks. An elliptical, six-metre-wide cutout in the canopy accommodates a pau ferro tree.

Atop the canopy is a terrace that adjoins a slatted wall made of cumaru wood. One level higher, on the roof, is a cistern for rainwater collection.

Within the dwelling, there is a clear distinction between public and private areas.

The ground floor holds a yoga studio, kitchen, dining area and living room. On the upper level, one finds three bedrooms.

Light diffuses through frosted glass in the yoga studio

The interior offers a fluid layout and finishes such as exposed concrete and wooden flooring. In the yoga studio, diffused light enters through a curved wall made of frosted glass.

At the rear of the ground level, glazed doors open onto a marble terrace, where the homeowner can receive friends and family.

A marble terrace provides space for entertaining

Other projects in Rio Grande do Sul include a white concrete residence by Rafael Lorentz that stands on a hilltop, and a home by Hype Studio that has a glass-bottom pool and a garage for antique cars.

The photography is by Lucas Franck/NMLSS.

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