Platinum Winner of the Houzee Awards 2024

House ECP

Architecture
Single-Family Housing
Concept
Professional Category

Architect / Designer:

Viviane Cunha

Studio:

Viviane Cunha Arquitetura

Design Team:

Pauline Souto, Rafael Agnese, Rosi Vellasco, Gabrielly Fernandes, Ricardo Nascimento

Copyright:

Gabriel Guimarães

Country:

Brazil

Imagine a house where the magic of reuniting family members scattered around the world and dear friends becomes a reality. Located in a stunning condominium in Angra dos Reis, Brazil, this residence features a garden with direct access to a canal, including a boat slip, creating a dreamlike setting.

The fundamental concept of this project was to create a perfect environment for emotional gatherings, where every corner inspires well-being and warmth. Generous spaces blend harmoniously with the landscape, utilizing materials like wood and stone that bring warmth and authenticity to the environment.

The owners acquired an old house, along with a separate guest house, situated on a lush plot. Together, we recognized the need for a significant transformation to make this place an ideal retreat for precious family moments.

The result is a single-volume house, covering 800 m², that balances a cozy design filled with details, with large openings that frame the landscape, visually connecting the interior to the exterior. The house expansion was done with a metal structure, allowing for generous spaces and a light integration of the social areas, with large sliding doors that allow the kitchen and TV room to be isolated as desired.

On the upper floor, five suites are concentrated, accessible via a mezzanine that leads to a contemplation terrace. From there, the view of the Atlantic Forest and the condominium canal, where boats glide towards the sea, offers a daily spectacle.

The lower floor houses a more secluded suite and the social area, which opens to the exterior fluidly. Here, the gourmet area, pool, sauna, gardens, and support bathroom create an oasis of leisure and well-being.

The contemporary design of the house, influenced by modern Japanese architecture, harmonizes natural materials like wood and stone with large glass panels that frame the landscape, promoting interaction between the indoor spaces and the surrounding nature.

We reorganized the rooms of the original house so that the living room, with double-height ceilings and extensive glass panels, became the central nucleus of the residence. This space now concentrates the connection with the other social areas, access to the intimate area, and the exterior, promoting memorable gatherings and experiences among all who gather there.

Every detail was thought out to transform this house into a refuge of beauty and comfort, where every gathering becomes a celebration of life and the emotional bonds that unite us.

Viviane Cunha Arquitetura

The Viviane Cunha Arquitetura office was created more than 38 years ago and is a reference in high-end contemporary architecture projects and in relating architecture and sustainability.

Dedicated to creating projects for sophisticated homes and interiors with an exclusive signature, he has projects in France, the United States, Ecuador, England, as well as Brazil and Portugal.

The office was awarded in Lisbon, by Conecta Summit 2023 and in London by BRE – British Research Enviromment.

We encourage designers and architects to share their best projects with the rest of the world so as to inspire the next generation and gain global recognition.