Conceived as an exercise in synthesis, Casa Bahia, designed by architect Patricia Martinez of Patricia Martinez Arquitetura as her own vacation home, reflects a pursuit of essentiality in which form, materiality, and sensibility are held in balance — a project that expresses her own vision of architecture.
"I wanted the house to represent me as an architect in every sense, with all my care. From the well-proportioned architecture down to the smallest detail, everything was thought through in a very personal way," says Patricia Martinez.
The residence is organized around a square base in biriba wood, which structures the ground floor in a solid yet permeable way. At this level, the social areas open to the outdoors through a deck and a pool in national travertine marble, which function as an extension of the living space, overlooking the forest of an environmental reserve. The burnished concrete flooring reinforces the continuity between interior and exterior, while the presence of wood contributes to a sense of warmth.
The materiality reinforces this reading: the façade combines timber joinery with a peroba wood structure, while the roof uses wooden shingles, creating unity between the building elements and the surrounding landscape. In response to the tropical climate, transparent sliding panels act as brise-soleils, controlling light and creating shaded areas in the communal zones. The ground floor also houses the kitchen, powder room, laundry, and an accessible bedroom.
Above this base, a simple, well-defined white volume configures the second floor, recalling, in the architect's words, "the most essential drawing of a house." The private area contains two ensuite bedrooms and a rooftop, conceived as a space for pause and contemplation — a place to watch the sunset, read, or watch a film outdoors. On this level, rustic cumaru wood flooring introduces a warmer, lighter materiality, in subtle contrast with the ground floor.
Another highlight is the art curation, carried out by the architect herself, which integrates naturally into the project. At the entrance, a work by Deco Adjiman from Galeria Luis Maluf — composed of bottled poems and messages — establishes a first, sensitive encounter with the house. Along the path to the powder room, two interconnected japalamas form a sculptural element, while in the living room, Ivan Grilo's work Intervalo de luz entre dois mistérios (Interval of light between two mysteries) invites reflection on the cycle of life. A sisal panel by Oiamo reinforces the natural materiality present throughout the residence.
With an architecture that balances rigor and sensibility, Casa Bahia stands as a personal manifesto by Patricia Martinez — a space where every choice reflects a way of thinking, living, and building.
