A Residence With A Perforated Brick Facade And A Dual Nature

Designing a house that’s both closed out and at the same time open to its surroundings is not easy but Arquitetos Associados did it. They created the KS Residence, a family home located in Natal, Brazil. It has a total living area of 410 square meters disposed on three levels and it was completed in 2016.

The house is designed with a brick facade that has lots of small openings in it
The house is designed with a brick facade that has lots of small openings in it
The perforated facade allows light to enter the house but at the same time offers less privacy than a fully solid facade
The perforated facade allows light to enter the house but at the same time offers less privacy than a fully solid facade

The main reason why we mentioned this dichotomy is because of the way the facade of the house was designed. The house is wrapped in facade made of bricks, arranged in a pattern that forms small openings that reveal a repetitive pattern. The perforated facade is crucial to the design of the house and its duality.

The house is organized on three levels, one of which is semi-buried into the ground
The house is organized on three levels, one of which is semi-buried into the ground
The ground floor is semi-elevated and has full-height windows and glass walls
The ground floor is semi-elevated and has full-height windows and glass walls

The numerous small openings in the perforated brick facade allows light to enter the interior spaces while also ensuring efficient natural ventilation throughout the floor plans. There’s also another detail that makes the design of this house special. Rather than simply stacking the three levels of the residence, the architects mixed it up a little bit and gave them various different heights and layouts.

One of the facades featured tall and narrow windows which ensure an increased level of privacy
One of the facades featured tall and narrow windows which ensure an increased level of privacy
Large and eye-catching staircases are an important element in the design and structure of the house
Large and eye-catching staircases are an important element in the design and structure of the house

The lowest level is semi-buried into the ground. It houses the garage as well as some workspaces. It’s not completely cut off from the views and the natural light, featuring narrow clerestory windows that bring in light and don’t allow these volumes to be dark and basement-like.

The interior volumes are organized around a central void which integrates the circulation spaces
The interior volumes are organized around a central void which integrates the circulation spaces
The interior design is open and bright, with an ambiance reminiscent of gardens and outdoor spaces
The interior design is open and bright, with an ambiance reminiscent of gardens and outdoor spaces

The ground floor is a semi-elevated level. It’s not at ground level but slightly above it. This is where the social and living areas are situated. They’re designed as large and open spaces organized around a central void that contains the circulation area that links all three floors.

The materials used throughout are simple and basic, including bricks and wood
The materials used throughout are simple and basic, including bricks and wood
This is how the perforated brick facade looks like from inside the house, specifically from one of the bedrooms
This is how the perforated brick facade looks like from inside the house, specifically from one of the bedrooms

The upper level is a private zone. This is where the bedrooms are situated. They too are framed by the perforated brick facade which, on one hand, gives a sense of intimacy and coziness and, on the other hand, opens up the spaces to their surroundings in a unique and spectacular way.

The perforated facade is an element that links all the spaces inside the house
The perforated facade is an element that links all the spaces inside the house
Polished concrete floors and white walls define almost every room in the house
Polished concrete floors and white walls define almost every room in the house