Modern Single-Story House Captures The Morning Sun

Aptly named the Origami House, this residence is wonderfully light and airy, featuring a thin concrete frame, a flat roof and wooden brise-soleils which together manage to complement each other just right. The concrete house is located in Brazil and was designed by studio Bernardez Arquitetura in 2017. It’s a single-story building shaped by the site’s topography and the desire to offer good insulation and cross-ventilation. Inside, the social and private areas placed perpendicular to each other, with the social area including a dining area, kitchen and living room which open onto a terrace that ends in a cantilevered swimming pool.

Although it's built of concrete, the Origami House looks very lightweight and slender
Although it’s built of concrete, the Origami House looks very lightweight and slender
The single-story house takes advantage of the morning sun and extends outside in a seamless and natural manner
The single-story house takes advantage of the morning sun and extends outside in a seamless and natural manner
The pivoting wooden shutters can completely close off the private spaces and double as doors in certain cases
The pivoting wooden shutters can completely close off the private spaces and double as doors in certain cases

The private zone is composed of three bedrooms and a home office which fit inside a metallic pavilion with wooden brise-soleils which double as pivoting doors. These wooden panels are also featured in the social area where they can separate the kitchen from the dining area whenever needed. The single-story design helps the house stay simple and practical and also allows it to maintain a low profile. At the same time, the house enjoys beautiful views of the forest towards East and gets to capture the morning sun. As far as the aesthetics are concerned, we find the combination of concrete, wood and glass to be perfectly balanced and a wonderful choice for the Origami House.

The raw concrete surfaces give the indoor spaces an industrial vibe without making them seem any less welcoming
The raw concrete surfaces give the indoor spaces an industrial vibe without making them seem any less welcoming
There's a separate outdoor area detached from the house, at a lower level
There’s a separate outdoor area detached from the house, at a lower level
The private area is positioned perpendicular to the social zone, within a metallic pavilion
The private area is positioned perpendicular to the social zone, within a metallic pavilion
The topography of the site is friendly and made this project easy compared to others
The topography of the site is friendly and made this project easy compared to others
The house takes full advantage of its location, featuring expansive outdoor areas oriented towards the valley
The house takes full advantage of its location, featuring expansive outdoor areas oriented towards the valley
The pivoting wooden panels act as shutters, giving the bedrooms privacy and blocking the sun
The pivoting wooden panels act as shutters, giving the bedrooms privacy and blocking the sun
The interior design is generally simple and focused on neutrals and warm color tones
The interior design is generally simple and focused on neutrals and warm color tones
The kitchen is very spacious and has a long and narrow layout seamlessly blended with the dining room
The kitchen is very spacious and has a long and narrow layout seamlessly blended with the dining room
The bedrooms have pivot screens which can let in as much natural light as needed
The bedrooms have pivot screens which can let in as much natural light as needed
This a bedroom-office combo, two functions with distinct roles which complement each other
This a bedroom-office combo, two functions with distinct roles which complement each other