atelier marko brajovic's arca residence in brazilian atlantic forest

atelier marko brajovic’s arca residence in brazilian atlantic forest
all images courtesy of atelier marko brajovic

on the border of parque da bocaina, roughly ten kilometers away from paraty brazil, is the perequé waterfall. the idyllic spot is characterized by dense native atlantic forest, warm, muggy weather, and a long list of animals ranging from jaguars to the three-toed sloths. placed there amongst it all is ‘arca’, a two bedroom residence by atelier marko brajovic.

rear façade and porch 

the metal structured home is thought of as a contemporary interpretation of the brazilian asurini and médio xingu typologies. a single shell — made of a composite of carbon steel, aluminum, and zinc — serves as roof and walls. the entire structure was assembled on-site in one week, and can be easily dismantled and rebuilt on different locations.

height relation with the natural surroundings, in particular the palmito trees

the home’s interior is clad in timber wall panels, equaling-out its overly-metallic composition. ‘arca’ has two bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and bathroom, as well as a generous open space that serves as a main commons area. atelier marko brajovic’s main intent with the home is for weekend inhabitation. ‘arca’ can be used for short stays by creatives or professionals (including their kids) who want to escape the banality of daily life, and reconnect with nature in a comfortable, if isolated, environment. 

the central area is composed of a living room, kitchen and dining area that opens outdoors 

bedrooms walls are covered with wood paneling, and opens to the terrace as well 

central space  

the open kitchen combines the metal and wood for a unique composition 

exterior structure detail 

‘arca’ is situated on the perequé waterfall 

the outdoors is illuminated with LED spotlights, creating an unpredictable theatre every night 

the home is very isolated, providing an immersive living experience 

project info:

project name: arca
format: residence 
project by: atelier marko brajovic
creative director: arch. marko brajovic
project director: arch. bruno bezerra
assistent architect: arch. lucas de sordi
shell structure: expobrax
area: 130m2
dimensions: 12m (L) x 10,5m (W) x 5,8m (H)
location: paraty, brazil

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: nick brink | designboom