an architects’ home in iporanga
Hidden within the dense greenery of Brazil’s Atlantic forest, the Iporanga House stands as architect Arthur Casas’s own retreat. Conceived as a place to ‘recharge his energies,’ the home sits lightly in a protected natural reserve along the São Paulo coast. Its design is guided by a desire for harmony with the surrounding vegetation, a goal demonstrated by wood cladding that blends with the forest’s shifting tones and textures.
‘The Atlantic forest represents Brazil — more than the sea, the beaches and bikinis, more than soccer, more than a Carnaval picture,’ Casas reflects. ‘This house is inserted in the forest and the wood covering tries to mimic it in the landscape — as if it was possible. The transparency, more than any aesthetic value, aims to justify the human presence in this place.’
images © Fernando Guerra
studio arthur casas opens interiors onto the trees
The plan takes the form of two symmetrical cubes framing a lofty central volume. Inside, lofty ceilings rise 11 meters (36 feet), and continuous glass panels draw in light and views, creating a breezy and fluid connection to the trees beyond. ‘The shape is simple, symmetrical, easy,’ Casas notes. He contrasts the home’s subdued form with with the ‘entropic, messy profile’ of the forest that surrounds it.
Cumaru wood wraps nearly every surface, from walls to floor, lending a warm continuity to the interiors. The open plan allows the living room to flow into the kitchen and office, all extending outward to a broad terrace. An elevated deck nearby serves as a belvedere, offering an unobstructed perspective on untouched fragments of the forest.
the serene retreat stands deep in Brazil’s Atlantic forest
the House is Immersed in brazil’s atlantic Forest
Studio Arthur Casas’ integration of indoor and outdoor space defines the experience of the Iporanga House. Glass facades slide away to merge rooms with the terrace, while rich timber finishes echo the hues of the surrounding canopy. The design invites daily encounters with the landscape. Morning light filters through the trees, the sound of wildlife carries across the open interior — all affirming Casas’s belief that architecture can quietly justify human presence in even the most pristine settings.
architect Arthur Casas designs the home as his personal sanctuary
continuous glass panels draw the forest indoors
Cumaru wood unifies walls, floors, and ceilings throughout
a broad terrace extends the interior into the trees
the architecture humbly justifies its place in nature
an elevated deck offers a view of otherwise untouched forest
project info:
name: Iporanga House
architect: Studio Arthur Casas | @studio.arthurcasas
location: Iporanga, Brazil
photography: © Fernando Guerra | @fernandogguerra
team: Regiane Khristian
contractor: MCF Construtora
MEP: Grau Engenharia
structural calculation: Leão e Associados
lighting: FOCO Luz e Desenho
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