Carved out of the Brazilian jungle of Iporanga, Sao Paulo, Brazil, this beautiful tropical house was designed by the architect Arthur Casas as his personal dream house. The architect stated that he had always dreamed of having a home in the middle of the forest, a space where he could relax and unwind. The dwelling is formed into two large symmetrical cubes, where the center of the home embraces an open space. The goal of the design was blur the boundaries between indoors and out, creating the feeling of complete oneness with nature.
Bringing the outside in, the architect installed an expansive wall of sliding glass panes from floor-to-ceiling, on either end of the open central space. Cumaru wood paneling clads the exterior facade of the home, with the primary goal of blending in with its breathtaking surroundings. Although, the architect admits that this is not really a hundred percent possible. Contrasting with the dense tropical forest the house is quite simple, symmetrical, and easy to take in.
The absence of partitions magnifies the dwellings’s integration with its surroundings, creating a sense of grandeur to the minimalistically designed living area. An expansive terrace borders the house, functioning as a vantage point to observe the surrounding untouched rain forest, and a partition between what has been built and what is natural. Stepping down, the negative-edge swimming pool seems to pour out into the thick forested landscape.
What We Love: The seamless connection between indoors and out and the way that the home is surrounded by jungle is simply breathtaking… a peaceful oasis in the heart of the jungle! The periscope fireplace in the living room is also a great design feature, as is the glass wall in the living room that makes you feel like you are immersed right in the jungle itself. What do you think, what is your favorite design feature in this home? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below!
The kitchen island forms a clever L-Shape, enabling diners to soak in the expansive views offers through the glass windows… which is even better when the walls of glass are folded away to bring in the sounds of the environment as well as the fresh breezes.
On the lower level is a home office that features two picture windows, framing the surrounding jungle outside…. can you say inspiring? There is also a guest bedroom on this level and maids quarters to keep the home in pristine condition!
The private zones of the dwelling are tucked into the cubes on either side of the home. These zones are accessed via a catwalk comprised of Cumaru wood (the floating staircase is also comprised of the same material), with glass on either side to keep the space feeling transparent. On one side of the catwalk is a private guest wing that offers a living area to relax. On the other side is the master bedroom with en-suite bathroom.
1 comment