House on the Shores of Furnas Lake

Situated on the shores of Lake Furnas, this countryside residence was designed with a clear intent: to maximize the relationship between the interior spaces and the privileged landscape surrounding the site. The internal layout is structured into three distinct wings: a social area comprising the living room, dining room, and home theater; a private wing with eight suites distributed across separate volumes; and a service area that houses the kitchen, laundry, and staff quarters.

photo_credit Rafael Carrieri
Rafael Carrieri
photo_credit Rafael Carrieri
Rafael Carrieri
photo_credit Rafael Carrieri
Rafael Carrieri
photo_credit Rafael Carrieri
Rafael Carrieri

Access is granted through the expansive social wing, defined by a large glass façade that frames the natural scenery and establishes an unobstructed visual connection with the lake. The enclosed volume housing the social areas features a ceiling that gradually increases in height towards the water, enhancing the spatial openness and its dialogue with the surroundings. This transition evolves into an open-air gourmet area, a concrete pergola deck, and finally, a fully uncovered platform adjacent to the pool.

photo_credit Rafael Carrieri
Rafael Carrieri
photo_credit Rafael Carrieri
Rafael Carrieri
photo_credit Rafael Carrieri
Rafael Carrieri
photo_credit Rafael Carrieri
Rafael Carrieri

The pool, arranged on two levels, follows the natural slope of the terrain, creating a subtle play of planes and minimizing the need for major earthworks. This solution reinforces the project's commitment to integrating architecture and landscape in a harmonious manner.

photo_credit Rafael Carrieri
Rafael Carrieri
photo_credit Rafael Carrieri
Rafael Carrieri
photo_credit Rafael Carrieri
Rafael Carrieri
photo_credit Rafael Carrieri
Rafael Carrieri

The eight suites are arranged in four two-story blocks located along one of the building's lateral façades. As they recede from the water, these blocks are progressively offset, ensuring that each room benefits from an equally privileged view of the lake. This design strategy avoids hierarchy among the bedrooms—each featuring identical dimensions, layout, and quality—while simultaneously generating a rhythmic volumetric composition. The resulting façade avoids monotony and introduces a pleasant cadence to the overall architectural form.

photo_credit Rafael Carrieri
Rafael Carrieri
photo_credit Rafael Carrieri
Rafael Carrieri
photo_credit Rafael Carrieri
Rafael Carrieri
photo_credit Rafael Carrieri
Rafael Carrieri

The suites are accessed via diagonal corridors. On the ground floor, the corridor runs alongside the living room and opens toward the pool, complemented by landscaped gardens. On the upper level, it takes the form of a mezzanine aligned with the lower floor's planters and is covered with a glass canopy, providing natural light that supports interior vegetation.

photo_credit Rafael Carrieri
Rafael Carrieri
photo_credit Rafael Carrieri
Rafael Carrieri
photo_credit Rafael Carrieri
Rafael Carrieri
photo_credit Rafael Carrieri
Rafael Carrieri
photo_credit Cleiton Caldeira Silva
Cleiton Caldeira Silva

In contrast to the other programmatic elements, the service wing adopts a more inward-facing character. Enclosed by stone and concrete walls, this zone remains both accessible and visually secluded, ensuring functionality and privacy without competing with the surrounding landscape.

Project credits

Product spec sheet

porcelain tile
toilet anda faucets
Lighting

Project data

Project Year
2023
Primary Building Material
Concrete
Glass
Building Area
1020 m2
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