with a suspended infinity pool, tetro's ponte house hangs from the hillside on brazilian island

ponte house embraces its natural context

Hanging from a hillside along the banks of the Cacupé sea, Tetro Architecture’s Ponte House integrates harmoniously with its context. Facing the mountains, the residence draws inspiration from nature and local characteristics in its form and materiality. Its lightweight metal structure recalls the frames of the iconic bridge that connects the Brazilian island of Florianópolis to the mainland, complemented by the stone walls that reference the ensemble of rocks that dot the expansive sea. Shaping the main structure of the house, two beams emerge from the ground and rest on two pillars, around which the bedrooms and social areas unfold. On the lower floor, a cantilevering swimming pool with scattered stones advances towards the sea.

all images © Joana França

tetro architecture assembles geometric steel & stone volumes

Tetro Architecture has integrated generous balconies and structure eaves that extend from the Ponte House. Crafted from perforated steel sheets, they visually pay homage to the Hercílio Luz Bridge while minimizing the effects of the setting sun. Additionally, the Brazilian architecture studio has angled the residence towards the west to capture scenic vistas of the continental sea and the majestic mountains of the Serra Catarinense, immersing residents in the landscape’s panoramas that transform throughout the day.

Stepping inside, the interiors are complemented by a curation of pieces of renowned Brazilian designers that were discarded by the authorities of Brasília, a modernist city center created by Oscar Niemeyer and Lúcio Costa in the 1960s. The furniture, all restored by the owners of the house, includes pieces by Jean Gillon, Sergio Rodrigues, and Jorge Zalszupin, designers whose pieces are now highly sought after in art galleries in the United States and Europe.

hanging from a hillside along the banks of the Cacupé sea