Project Credits & Specs
- Architects: Stemmer Rodrigues Arquitetura
- Photographs: Lucas Frank
- Location: Xangri-lá, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Area: 201 m2
- Year: 2021
Project Description
A completely ground-floor house, cozy, that would bring a sense of well-being and calm to enjoy the weekends: these were the owner’s requests for the design of a 201m² house, located in Xangri-lá, a city near Porto Alegre, for the architecture office Stemmer Rodrigues. In addition, the team had the challenge of executing the project in only six months and intervening as little as possible on the land, and keeping one hundred percent of the large trees already existing on the site.
To accomplish this schedule in such a short time, special construction techniques were used, such as concreting the floor and subfloor in the initial phase of the work in a single step, structural masonry on which the exposed concrete slab was supported, dispensing with the use of plaster ceilings.
The house is located on a corner – which creates a certain degree of difficulty in the construction work – so its layout is based on a sinuous line, executed through a wood panel, which separates the social area from the intimate area. Two large horizontal concrete planes finalize the minimalist and contemporary concept, while two other large glass planes, which open completely, guarantee integration with the outside area, while louvers were added to ensure the privacy of the residents.
Concrete, a material widely used both in the structure and in the exposed slab, which extends throughout the residence, has stamped Guaimbê leaves – a native Brazilian plant widely used in decoration -. Wood was also another element abundantly used in the project, such as in the brises and in the panels. These last ones, besides guaranteeing privacy, help in the feeling of well-being, warmth, and tranquility, breaking the coldness of the glass.
The project uses sustainable techniques, such as taking advantage of the presence of cross ventilation and minimizing the use of thermal conditioning and lighting systems.
The lighting design is predominantly indirect, enhancing the architecture and creating a dramatic ambiance. Pointed pendants provide a working light in the kitchen and dining area. The concrete and wood countertop has its own lighting, creating a light and shadow effect that highlights the concrete texture.
The project description is provided by the architects, via Cobogó Public Relations.
About the Architects
Stemmer Rodrigues is an architecture studio with offices in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and Barcelona, Spain. Architecture is a tool that reinvents the urban space, translating projects into cultural manifestations for living well. It is a language that fosters imagination and happiness. In the last three decades, they have created means and skills to make people feel understood. Therefore, they challenge themselves to listen to them and translate them into unique projects.
