estúdio BRA's pitanga house sits within the rich native vegetation of santa isabel, brazil

the pitanga house by estúdio BRA is a single-family concrete residence nestled within the rich native vegetation of its 800 sqm environmental reserve plot in santa isabel, brazil. designed for a family who decided to move away from one of the busiest neighborhoods of the city of são paulo, the house features a relaxing and quite atmosphere for its inhabitants. its concrete construction makes it appear like a stone in the middle of large trees and greenery, aiming at making a smooth transition between the natural and the man-made.all images by federico cairoli

estúdio BRA has developed the pitanga house to take the most advantage of its natural landscape, focusing the most important views toward the denser part of the surrounding native forest. the residence’s ground floor is quietly implemented within the mix of tall trees, with large glass sheets that can open or close, controlling the level of integration of the living and dining rooms with the outdoor leisure area and pool, which are located on the same level. besides housing the entrance to the lot, the ground floor also incorporates two closed parts: one for a ground floor apartment, and a space that encloses the kitchen, laundry, utility room, barbecue, and stairway access to the upper floor, which contains the bedrooms.

at the lowest level, a concrete volume embedded in the natural profile of the lot encloses an office for the couple, who now work from home, as well as a garden and terrace, a room for the pool system, and a space for the care of the family’s three dogs. access to these areas is by a prefabricated concrete helical staircase, which creates a path and kind of displacement, even within the lot, to register that the couple is leaving for work.