Architects: Bento e Azevedo Arquitetos Associados
Location: Camaçari, Brazil
Interior design: Bento e Azevedo Arquitetos Associados
Structural engineers: Eng. Fernando Dourado
Project area: 260 sqm
Project year: 2007 – 2008
Photographs: Tarso Figueira
Located in Camaçari – Bahia – Brazil, the HOUSE CARQUEIJA is about 260,00 sqm in a 1.400,00 sqm site, with a reduced program, and no unused spaces, the house is intended to be more site sensitive, emphasize the outside life, and provide functional and comfortable living spaces. With a simple and efficient plan, it is a ground floor house with 2 rooms, a chapel and a large and flexible social area, which integrate living, dining and tv room in a open space, linked to the outside area through a porch. The house was horizontally sited into its site, a strong relationship and environmental concerns make the project keep the natural landscape and sloping topography, in a way that the house floats on the spot creating two different levels of occupations. A couple of steps leads to the entrance, from the house a stair connect the green outside area where the swimming pool and the barbecue are placed. In order to have the best orientation, in a tropical county, the house closes itself from the front street view, which is west, and opens into the backyard, creating a privative and integrated place. That way, on the front facade, architectural elements, as a narrow windows and a pare-soleil was used to protect the house against solar irradiation, while the back facade, on east side, completely integrate the inside with the outside, through large windows, sliding doors and a porch, connecting the house with the green area. As a result, in a first contact with the house, it seems like a closed box, where you see the volume of the garage and the front entrance. Totally different from the experience of getting in the house and only then, discover the amply space, fully of natural light and the visual connection with the natural landscape.