This residence in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was conceived, designed, and built under my direction, with a strong emphasis on integration between architecture and the surrounding natural landscape. Positioned on a sloped terrain, the house is carefully adapted to the topography to minimize earth movement and preserve existing vegetation, creating a sequence of outdoor and semi-outdoor spaces including a terraced garden, paved patio, and a descending driveway framed by greenery and natural stone.

Architecturally, the house follows a Brazilian vernacular language influenced by mountain and countryside residences, with multiple intersecting pitched roofs in ceramic clay tiles that respond to heavy rainfall while extended eaves provide solar protection and reinforce horizontal lines. The façades combine smooth stucco in warm tones with extensive natural wood in window frames, structural elements, and soffits, while large glazed openings, including sliding doors and corner windows, maximize natural light and frame views of the mountains and vegetation.

Internally, the design prioritizes continuity with the landscape through floor-to-ceiling glazing and the extension of material language, particularly wood ceilings, blurring the boundary between inside and outside. A key feature is the enclosed gourmet area, conceived as a transparent volume with full-height glass, integrating dining, kitchen, and social functions around a custom barbecue and pizza oven, with warm lighting enhancing its evening use.

The landscaping is designed to appear natural yet controlled, combining lawns with native and tropical species to provide privacy, shade, and a strong sense of place. Outdoor areas extend the living spaces and encourage fluid movement throughout the property, resulting in a residence that balances traditional architectural elements with contemporary openness while harmonizing built form, materiality, and landscape.