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Contemporary House Makes Clever Use Of A Steep Slope With Nice Views

The LLF House was designed by studio Obra Arquitetos and is this absolutely charming structure located in São José dos Campos, Brazil. A major determining factor for the design and distribution of the spaces was the fact that the site has a very steep slope. Also, the house is quite small compared to the overall size of the site. As a result, the architects positioned it at the center of the lot and structured it on two floors.

The house is built of cast-in-place reinforced concrete which is always appreciated for its plasticityView in gallery
The house is built of cast-in-place reinforced concrete which is always appreciated for its plasticity

The ground floor (or basement) depending how you look at it, houses the private spaces: four bedrooms connected to a garden. The top floor (or main level) holds the common spaces as well as the garage and service areas.

The common areas enjoy a seamless connection to the outdoors thanks to the sliding glass doorsView in gallery
The common areas enjoy a seamless connection to the outdoors thanks to the sliding glass doors
The house appears to dig into the slope when in fact it rises above the landscapeView in gallery
The house appears to dig into the slope when in fact it rises above the landscape

Surrounded by vegetation, the house looks perfectly at home here. It responds to this difficult topography with grace and it has a very strong relationship with the immediate surroundings and the outdoors in general. The bottom floor’s roof doubles as the floor for a flat surface that allows the other spaces to extend outside. This way both levels enjoy a seamless connection to the outdoors. Furthermore, the social areas lack rigid barriers and seamlessly flow into one another. This ensures flexibility and freedom throughout the floor plan.

All the private areas are tucked away on the lower level where they open up towards a small lakeView in gallery
All the private areas are tucked away on the lower level where they open up towards a small lake
The roof of the ground floor becomes the floor for the little garden above itView in gallery
The roof of the ground floor becomes the floor for the little garden above it
A lap pool rises from the ground alongside the house, accessible from the top floorView in gallery
A lap pool rises from the ground alongside the house, accessible from the top floor
All the rooms are fully open to the exterior and enjoy a strong relationship with their surroundingsView in gallery
All the rooms are fully open to the exterior and enjoy a strong relationship with their surroundings
The house sits at the center of the site and gradually transitions into greeneryView in gallery
The house sits at the center of the site and gradually transitions into greenery
Although it's built out of reinforced concrete, the house has a very delicate and lightweight appearanceView in gallery
Although it’s built out of reinforced concrete, the house has a very delicate and lightweight appearance
Here you can see how the interior and exterior blend together resulting in this eclectic designView in gallery
Here you can see how the interior and exterior blend together resulting in this eclectic design
The bedrooms open up towards the garden and are essentially very simple, austere evenView in gallery
The bedrooms open up towards the garden and are essentially very simple, austere even
White marble and a huge mirror give the bathroom a bright and timeless feelView in gallery
White marble and a huge mirror give the bathroom a bright and timeless feel
Two slightly angled steel columns support the roof overhang, forming a cozy outdoor terraceView in gallery
Two slightly angled steel columns support the roof overhang, forming a cozy outdoor terrace