Casa da Luz

OKA Fotografia

Light House/ Casa da Luz

• Architects

Where nature and elegance meet in perfect harmony. Coziness and tranquility in the midst of Bahia's natural landscape.

photo_credit OKA Fotografia — OKA Fotografia

Casa da Luz is situated on top of a cliff at Espelho beach in the south of Bahia. The construction is a beautiful example of architectural symbiosis, where local culture and modern features coexist, bringing unique sensations.

In order to maintain the original vegetation and preserve the typical species of the region, the house was built in blocks connected by a central atrium, which also serves as an entrance hall.

The project softens the slope of the land by using landings, contained by discrete stone walls, which, despite bringing orthogonal traces, follow the level curves of the land.

At the entrance to the plot, next to the garage, is the service block, covered by a wooden pergola and surrounded by a large leafy garden. This structure has a large laundry room, a cloakroom, a storage room and a staff suite overlooking a lawn with beautiful coconut and mangaba trees.

The main axis of circulation is composed of a wooden walkway that goes from the portal of the social entrance of the house, passing through the central atrium, until it reaches a simple chapel at the bottom of the plot.

The atrium is the heart of the house and was inspired by an oriental garden, with a sandy patio, with a beautiful flamboyant at the centre, surrounded by decking walkways covered with pergolas and closed by pivoting panels in biriba that resemble biombos - a Bahian version of Japanese gardens.

The social block was positioned in the centre of the plot and has longitudinal glass enclosures with large sliding doors, which provide total integration with the atrium, the external terrace, the gourmet area, the swimming pool and the jacuzzi. The feeling one gets from this space is one of permeability, freedom and harmony.

Light. At every hour of the day, with every passing cloud, light enters through the windows and gaps, creating an ephemeral and natural effect, a visual spectacle that can be appreciated from different points in the house. When walking through the corridors leading to the suites, which are enclosed by biriba, one can perceive the play of light and shade that is patterned on the floor and on the wall.

The rooms are oriented towards the sunrise and overlook a forest of native trees. It is a small spectacle to watch the light permeating the forest and flooding into the rooms, creating a serene atmosphere in the morning. The en-suite bathrooms are spacious and modern, their stone walls and private gardens bring a warm, natural feel.

Religious syncretism is present throughout the house, from the oratories carved into the walls beside the entrance to each suite to the small chapel built further down the plot, which was conceived as a space for introspection and contemplation.