Casa Eco began to take shape in 2020, born from a couple's desire for a summer house dedicated to rest and gathering with family and friends. The project was conceived during the selection of the plot, chosen in partnership with the architecture firm, and was guided from the outset by the premise of being a welcoming home, open to gatherings and deeply connected to its surroundings.
Located in Casa Branca, a district of Brumadinho in Minas Gerais, Brazil, the residence occupies a sloping lot where a careful reading of the topography, the landscape, and the program guided the main design decisions. Facing the Serra da Moeda mountain range, the house adapts to the terrain and is laid out across two levels, minimizing earthwork and preserving the natural profile of the land, while balancing natural constraints with solar orientation and prevailing winds.
The slope becomes a structuring element of the architecture and plays a key role in the distribution of the program. On the upper floor, at street level, are the garage, the entrance hall, and six of the eight suites. A linear corridor organizes the private area and directs the view toward the Serra da Moeda through large glass panes. At the end of the volume, the master suite extends toward the horizon. Nicknamed "The Finger" by the family, it functions as a private lookout dedicated to contemplation.
From the entrance hall, a double-height void establishes the connection between the two floors, gradually revealing the openness of the social areas. At the center, a pleated staircase articulates the different zones, turning vertical circulation into an integral part of the architectural experience.
Positioned below street level, the lower floor enjoys greater privacy and opens onto the garden. The living room, dining room, and gourmet kitchen form a single, continuous space free of partitions, entirely oriented toward the outdoors. Large glass panels eliminate the boundaries between interior and exterior, allowing the landscape to be part of daily life.
The social spaces extend onto a large open patio, conceived as a natural extension of the indoors. A swimming pool, outdoor living area, and fire pit offer different ways to enjoy the space throughout the day. At the far end, the gourmet kitchen occupies a strategic position as the primary meeting point, reaffirming the Minas Gerais tradition of gathering around the stove. A generous covered veranda extends this central hub, creating a smooth transition between the house and the garden.
The materiality was conceived so that structure and space speak a single language. The exposed concrete is not merely a finish; it reveals the construction logic, defining columns, beams, slabs, eaves, and vertical planes with the same precision with which it organizes the rooms. As a permanent finish, exposed concrete demands rigor in the development of the design, requiring structure, building systems, and details to be conceived collectively. More than a formal choice, this decision reflects an interest in an essential architecture, marked by construction honesty and the natural expression of time.
The strength of the concrete is balanced by the presence of materials applied in their raw essence. Terrazzo runs through the social areas as a continuous surface, while wood introduces warmth and comfort to the living spaces. Natural stone, glass, and ceramic tiles complete the palette. These surfaces take on different nuances throughout the day, revealing textures and continuously transforming the atmosphere of the house.
The tile panels designed by artist Vito Quintans introduce a delicate counterpoint to the sobriety of the concrete. Featured on the entrance facade and the kitchen island, they add color, texture, and a handcrafted dimension that brings the precision of the construction closer to the everyday scale of living.
The landscaping, designed by André Orsini, reinforces the integration between architecture and landscape, establishing a natural transition between the building and its surroundings.
Casa Eco materializes a way of living where architecture, landscape, and social interaction become inseparable. Every decision, from the site placement to the flow of circulation, and from the exposed structure to the materials, contributes to a design where gathering takes center stage. Between the austere presence of concrete and the generosity of the living areas, the residence offers a contemporary interpretation of Minas Gerais hospitality, making the act of welcoming its primary architectural gesture.
