Located on a descending slope, amidst a forest reserve, the RDJ House project
sought to mimic the topography in which it is located. Our goal was to create a
house that, at first glance, seemed one-story, but that would slowly unfold through
its descending route.
The main house program is distributed on two levels. On the ground floor is located
the social area, comprising living, dining and gourmet spaces. Travertine floors and
natural wood lining cover the entire area, with large glass panels opening to the
lawn and the surrounding nature, blurring the limits between the inside and the
outside. A swimming pool, over which the house appears to float, functions as an
extension of the garden. On the other side, in a slightly angled volume, is the
intimate area, where the family bedrooms are located. Grayish wooden panels
cover the façade. The change of orientation in this volume resulted in a large
cantilever, where the couple's suite is located. Big planters on the floor extensions,
aligned with the eaves’ limits, open up to the surroundings, with a 180o view.
Down the stairs to the lower floor, a movie theater, gym, guest rooms and laundry
area are located. Rather than architectural, the basement assumes a more
tectonic aspect, with stones and small openings on the façade, in contrast to the
glass panels on the ground floor.
Leaving the main residence, a winding path downhill takes us to a new volume,
where an oPice and a spa are located. Its structure, just like the house above, is
metallic. Continuing down the path, a large covered tennis court reveals itself
amidst the landscape. From afar, its scale is already impressive. It is four and a half
meters high with large laminated wood porticoes supporting its enormous roof,
designed for maximum thermal comfort and protection against the elements. But
it is upon entering the space that you realize that, in addition to the height seen
from the outside, the court is also buried to the same extent, held by exposed
concrete walls. It is nine meters high in total, creating a unique spatiality and
experience.
Team:
Architect: Jacobsen Arquitetura
Lead Architect: Paulo Jacobsen, Bernardo Jacobsen and Edgar Murata
Photographer: Fernando Guerra
