Home Architecture

Dream Villa in Brazil With A Tropical Yet Very Simple Design

By Simona Ganea | Published on

Two concrete units, one at the top and one at the bottom, with opposite orientations and yet in perfect harmony – this is how we’d describe this wonderful residence from Vila Princesa, Brazil. The house was designed and built by studio Rmk! Arquitetura and offers a total of 456 square meters of living space. Completed in 2018, the house enjoys a strong bond with its surroundings, a relationship emphasized by the overall design and architecture in numerous ways.

The exposed concrete structure gives the house a subtly rugged appearanceView in gallery
The exposed concrete structure gives the house a subtly rugged appearance
The interior design is defined by a palette of natural materials and finishes, including stone and woodView in gallery
The interior design is defined by a palette of natural materials and finishes, including stone and wood
The living area can be seamlessly opened up onto the wooden deck and poolside areaView in gallery
The living area can be seamlessly opened up onto the wooden deck and poolside area
The living room and dining area form a single open space with large windows and modern furnitureView in gallery
The living room and dining area form a single open space with large windows and modern furniture

The ground floor is where the social areas are situated. These areas are framed by large glass walls complemented by natural stone surfaces which each connect them to the outdoors in a unique and special way. This marvelous integration with the exterior is also continued upstairs where the volume extends over the ground floor unit, forming a concrete box which cantilevers on both ends. Below, a porch and a carport are sheltered beneath the volumes. A wooden deck extends the social areas outside onto the pool area and sliding glass doors eliminate the physical barrier between these spaces.

The harsh nature of the exposed concrete is beautifully complemented by warm wood surfacesView in gallery
The harsh nature of the exposed concrete is beautifully complemented by warm wood surfaces
The relationship between the indoor and the outdoor is very strong and becomes a defining characteristic of the houseView in gallery
The relationship between the indoor and the outdoor is very strong and becomes a defining characteristic of the house
The cantilevered top floor forms a protective roof over the ground floor porch areaView in gallery
The cantilevered top floor forms a protective roof over the ground floor porch area
The poolside deck and the rest of the outdoor spaces give the house a tropical vibeView in gallery
The poolside deck and the rest of the outdoor spaces give the house a tropical vibe
The kitchen is almost entirely grey, with minimalist furniture and a beautiful wooden ceilingView in gallery
The kitchen is almost entirely grey, with minimalist furniture and a beautiful wooden ceiling
The two main volumes of the house benefit from great orientation which gives them wonderful viewsView in gallery
The two main volumes of the house benefit from great orientation which gives them wonderful views
A set of tall trees give the house a nice level of privacy without completely blocking the viewView in gallery
A set of tall trees give the house a nice level of privacy without completely blocking the view
Thanks to the large windows and sliding glass doors, the indoor-outdoor transition is very seamlessView in gallery
Thanks to the large windows and sliding glass doors, the indoor-outdoor transition is very seamless
The wooden staircase connecting the two floors has a minimalist design and appears to be floatingView in gallery
The wooden staircase connecting the two floors has a minimalist design and appears to be floating
Sliding wooden panels can easily conceal the kitchen, separating it from the living areaView in gallery
Sliding wooden panels can easily conceal the kitchen, separating it from the living area
When the doors are open, the living room, kitchen and dining area become a single large volumeView in gallery
When the doors are open, the living room, kitchen and dining area become a single large volume
The selection of materials and finishes gives the spaces a slight industrial appearanceView in gallery
The selection of materials and finishes gives the spaces a slight industrial appearance
On one side of the cantilevered top floor there's a carport neatly tucked under the concrete boxView in gallery
On one side of the cantilevered top floor there’s a carport neatly tucked under the concrete box