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Dec 20, 2023

FGMF covers Brazilian house in translucent shell

Local studio FGMF has used translucent screens and metallic panels to enclose a residence on a sloping site near São Paulo. Located in the town of Campinas, Casa Brisa stands within an expansive

Local studio FGMF has used translucent screens and metallic panels to enclose a residence on a sloping site near São Paulo.

Located in the town of Campinas, Casa Brisa stands within an expansive shell-like structure that protects the residence from inclement weather and the high temperatures of the area.

"It is an investigation into the inside and outside, the covered and open, the union between gardens and architecture in a quiet way, using simple materials in an unconventional way," said FGMF partner Fernando Forte.

The two-storey, concrete home, stands underneath an independent steel structure that supports a flat, corrugated metal roof and sides made from perforated metal screens.

It has various openings to accommodate growing trees and allow light into the home and gardens below.

Large windows, screens and sliding glass doors throughout the home open the residence to the outdoors.

The designers integrated the home into its site by burying the ground floor into the slope, with the entrance and second floor at street level.

The house extends the length of its hilly site with a linear floor plan that incorporates semi-open gardens and concludes with an outdoor living and pool area.

On the ground floor, utility spaces like storage and a small bathroom are underneath the entrance to the home, which is tucked into the steepest part of the site. A hallway expands into the main living area and is surrounded by the first garden at the home.

The main living space contains a seating area, a dining room, and kitchen that can be opened using large sliding glass doors.

A second garden containing trees and native plants surrounds the space. Both gardens will expand and grow over time to create an additional layer of privacy. A pool and lounge area completes the living space.

Upstairs, three bedrooms are equally open to the surroundings with large windows and metal screens that slide open or close.

Masonry details like a decorative fence at the entrance of the home were designed to create softness in the inner layer of the structure, while the outer shell is more industrial, with a structure made of steel and metal.

Solar panels integrated into the outer shell provide water heating and power for the residence.

During the day, the home appears rigid and monolithic from afar. At night, its translucent layers expose the interior structure.

FGMF has completed several buildings in the São Paulo area, including a multi-use skyscraper with a central atrium, and another countryside home that features block-like volumes.

The photography is by Fran Parente.

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