Laranjeiras Residence by Fernanda Marques Arquitetos Associados

São Paulo-based studio Fernanda Marques Arquitetos Associados has completed the Laranjeiras Residence project in 2009.

This 10,225 square foot summer house is located the southern coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“Built in a gated community on the southern coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, this summer house, with its 950 square meter, had its architectural approach defined by the natural beauty of its surroundings: one of Brazil’s most gorgeous landscapes. Both for its technical features and for the design freedom it provides, steel was the material of choice for the house structure. Its outward look, however, is covered in wood, a device used to protect it from the sea air and make it more familiar-looking amid the green Mata Atlântica. In order to provide maximum integration between the internal and external areas, large glazed windows were used, allowing virtually every room in the house ample interaction with the landscape.

To counterbalance the use of timber, the essential element in the project’s aesthetic arrangement, interior areas were conceived with strong emphasis on the dialogue among materials, either finished or unfinished – oscillating between rustic and high-tech. To that end, one of the main challenges faced by the architect was selecting furniture and decorative pieces that were contemporary in their look yet were in keeping with the seaside mood. Also, low pieces were chosen, so that nothing would get in the way of the view out into the sea.

We mixed sophisticated and contemporary finishes (such as lacquer, mirrors and stainless steel) and more rustic ones (seagrass, reclaimed wood). The materials must also be suitable for use on the coast”, tells the architect, who also highlights the fluidity given by the airy layout and the pure and simple juxtaposition of contemporary design furniture and handcrafted pieces.”