Between the dense forest and the sea of Mangaratiba — a coastal town approximately an hour and a half from Rio de Janeiro — lies, at the foot of a mountain, the House of Courtyards. Gently nestled into the terrain, the residence molds itself to the landscape, embracing the greenery, the breeze, and natural light. The architectural design bears the signature of Studio MK27, while the landscaping is by Rodrigo Oliveira — together, they craft a haven dedicated to family leisure.
The architecture comprises two horizontal, single-story volumes, positioned along the longitudinal terrain and connected by a lush central courtyard. The first block, facing the front of the lot, opens to the view and the pool terrace, where the gradient of blue integrates into daily life. The second, more secluded volume houses five suites with private courtyards that offer verdant vistas — even from the bathrooms.
The link between the volumes and the spaces created is woven through the delicate interplay of the landscaping. It gracefully stitches the boundaries between the built and the natural, proposing a seamless transition, akin to a well-flowing conversation.
The sloping topography and the varying visual openings of the land — the dense riparian vegetation on one side and the beach on the other — suggested, from the very first site visit, a landscaping approach that would be gradually discovered. Much like the architecture, the journey through the garden is a central element of the proposal.
Arrival occurs at the highest point of the terrain, where the garage and main access initially reveal only the roof of the residence. From this point, the landscaping assumes two essential functions: creating a visual barrier that ensures privacy from neighboring houses and guiding the gaze inward. The solution came through a narrow, winding path, guided by stone flooring amidst the vegetation. There, species like the Rhapis Palm (Rhapis excelsa) and the Macarthur Palm (Ptychosperma macarthurii), arranged parallel to the exposed brick wall, are combined with Philodendrons (Philodendron bipinnatifidum, Philodendron xanadu, and Philodendron undulatum) and a ground cover of green liriope (Liriope muscari).
The central courtyard is the heart of the project. It assumes the ambiance of a naturalistic tropical garden, where the orthogonal lines of the house gently contrast with the organic nature of the vegetation. Irregularly shaped stone slabs create paths that suggest barefoot, unpretentious walking. The plant composition blends species of varying sizes, without rigid hierarchies, but rather in volumes and layers, promoting visual depth and a constant presence of greenery visible from all points of the social area.
Among the masses of Philodendrons, ferns, and Samambaia, three specimens of the Mulungu tree (Erythrina verna) emerge, medium-sized trees that punctuate the space. The garden remains illuminated even with the dense vegetation, a result of a careful scaling between species.
According to Rodrigo Oliveira, the courtyard was conceived as if a bird had scattered seeds by chance, creating a spontaneous, organic, and welcoming garden — as if it had always been there.
Still within this space, around the fire pit, a lounge with Rio Manso armchairs by Carlos Motta invites contemplation at all times of the day, including under the moonlight. The outdoor lighting follows the logic of the architecture: subtle and indirect.
On the opposite side, facing the sea, the garden opens up and becomes drier, favoring the unobstructed view of the horizon. A Sunshade Tree (Terminalia catappa) was chosen for this section, with a slender trunk and light canopy, casting shade without blocking the landscape. Along the sides, flower beds with fruit-bearing species and medium-sized trees preserve privacy from neighboring residences.
In the private courtyards of each suite, the landscaping acts as an extension of the interiors. The foliage grows in height as it approaches the rear gable of the house, revealing a composition rich in textures and variations of green. Plants like the Monstera (Monstera deliciosa), the Rabbit's Foot Fern (Davallia fejeensis), and the Wavy-leaf Philodendron (Philodendron undulatum) stand out against the rustic backdrop of exposed brick and the concrete floor with exposed aggregate.
In this residence, the architecture disperses across the terrain and dissolves into the landscape. The garden, in turn, emerges as a natural extension of the mountain — a gesture of complete integration with the surroundings. It not only complements but translates and amplifies the sensitivity of the architecture, creating a place of refuge, permanence, and discovery.
Project: House of Courtyards
Location: Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Completion Year: 2020
Site Area: 2.000 m²
Architecture: Studio MK27 (Marcio Kogan + Samanta Cafardo)
Interiors: Studio MK27 (Diana Radomysler)
Landscape Design: Rodrigo Oliveira Paisagismo
Text & Communication: Matheus Pereira
Photography: Fran Parente
Main Plant Species:
Trees:
Jabuticaba (Plinia cauliflora), Brazilwood (Paubrasilia echinata), Umbrella Tree (Terminalia catappa), Yellow Ipe (Handroanthus albus), Pink Ipe (Handroanthus heptaphyllus), Tataré (Caesalpinia pluviosa), Mirindiba (Lafoensia pacari), Macaranga (Macaranga tanarius), Grumixama (Eugenia brasiliensis), Cannonball Tree (Couroupita guianensis), Surinam Cherry (Eugenia uniflora), Elephant Apple (Dilenia indica), Mulungu (Erythrina velutina), Corticeira (Erythrina verna), Pau-Mulato (Calycophyllum spruceanum).
Shrubs and Plants:
Sago Palm (Cycas circinalis), Rhapis Palm (Rhapis excelsa), Macarthur Palm (Ptychosperma macarthurii), Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans), Giant Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia augusta), Havana Cigar Plant (Calathea lutea), Split-Leaf Philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum), Wavy-Leaf Philodendron (Philodendron undulatum), Xanadu Philodendron (Philodendron xanadu), Freycinetia (Freycinetia multiflora), Medinilla (Medinilla magnifica), Ciclantus (Cyclanthus bipartitus), Green Pleomele (Dracaena reflexa), Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis), Jamaican Sword Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata 'Jamaica'), Rabbit’s Foot Fern (Davallia fejeensis), Congea (Congea tomentosa), Yellow Jasmine (Jasminum mesnyi), Bamboo Multiplex (Bambusa multiplex), Norantea (Norantea guianensis).
Groundcovers and Grasses:
Mini Pilea (Pilea glauca), Green Liriope (Liriope muscari), Walking Iris (Neomarica candida), Emerald Grass (Zoysia japonica).
