Brazilian architecture

Casa Matriz was born from the refusal to repeat the obvious. In a setting defined by the close proximity between buildings and the repetition of predictable solutions, the architecture responds through introspection and openness: it closes itself laterally to preserve privacy, while directing the gaze toward the landscape beyond, transforming the house into a continuous journey between interior, water, nature, and horizon. In the outdoor areas, architecture and landscape become one continuous experience: the pool reflects the surrounding vegetation, dissolving the boundaries between house and nature. Manuel Sá Manuel Sá Manuel Sá Manuel Sá Conceived as a high-end residence intended for sale,... More

Located in the Perdizes neighborhood of São Paulo, this apartment occupies a listed heritage building set within a densely wooded site, with trees on both sides. The building has a distinctive architectural character, with a striking and particularly interesting façade that served as one of the main references for the renovation project. The apartment had already undergone a previous renovation, but the existing layout no longer adequately met the needs of the new resident. The original configuration included one very large bathroom, another that was quite small, and a cramped laundry area. The project therefore began with a reorganization of the wet areas, seeking to make better use of the available space and adapt it to the... More

The renovation of Endemol’s office, developed by Space Plan, is based on a strategy to update the workplace through targeted interventions within the existing structure. The project preserves the original configuration of the slabs and focuses the transformation on elements that renew the office experience, strengthen the brand identity, and respond to current work dynamics. The starting point was a study of the existing infrastructure to define a lower-impact intervention capable of optimizing the spaces without major structural changes. The proposal reorganizes team areas, improves the flow between spaces, and establishes a new reading of the office through the combination of colors, materials, and furniture. Marcelo Estêv... More

Bixiga is part of the history of JBMC Architecture and Urbanism and of its founding partner, João Batista Martinez Corrêa. Brother of José Celso Martinez Corrêa, founder of Teatro Oficina, João Batista has developed a close relationship with the neighborhood, its cultural life, and residents’ long-standing demand for an open space dedicated to community life. It was within this context that the firm developed its proposal for the Bixiga Municipal Park Competition, held for the creation of the new park. Although JBMC’s proposal was not selected as the winning entry, the study is based on the environmental restoration of the site and the creation of new connections with its surroundings to establi... More

Immersed in the lush vegetation of Costa Verde, Blue Star House emerges as an extension of the landscape. Conceived from the idea of total integration with nature, the architecture is oriented toward the horizon, dissolving the boundaries between interior and exterior and creating generous shaded areas that define spaces of transition and permanence between inside and outside. Large pivoting wooden doors open the interiors to views of the sea and mountains, allowing the house to transform according to the degree of openness while promoting cross ventilation. Natural light flows through the spaces, filtering through façade elements and openings of varied geometries. Throughout the day, shafts of light draw the interior between solids... More

Located in a condominium in Brasília, in Brazil’s Federal District, Grota House, designed by Esquadra Arquitetos, emerges from a particular condition of the site: the presence of a permanent preservation area along its eastern edge. Rather than treating the building restriction as a limitation, the project transforms it into a starting point, turning the architecture toward the existing ravine and the native forest that extends around the residence. Joana França Joana França Joana França Joana França Joana França Set entirely on one level, the house was organized rationally to accommodate the program while preserving a direct relationship with its surroundings. The en... More

Located in a privileged setting on the northern coast of São Paulo, this house enjoys a unique relationship with its surroundings. Its L-shaped layout allows one façade to overlook the sea and the rocky shoreline, while the other faces the beach. The original house featured a distinctive architectural language and a rustic material palette, including white-painted brick walls with raised mortar joints, natural stone walls, and rough timber elements. The design concept was to meet the new owners' needs while respecting both the existing architecture and the surrounding natural landscape. The intervention focused on three main strategies: converting the former garage into an open-plan living and dining area integrated with the... More

Perched atop a mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro’s coastline, A Nave opens itself to the horizon through an unexpected gesture. Designed by Mareines Arquitetura, the residence proposes a light and integrated living experience, where architecture merges with the landscape and the sea becomes a natural extension of the home. A key element of the proposal, the expansive wooden pergola envelops and covers the entire building, functioning as a second architectural skin. Conceived to withstand Rio de Janeiro’s intense sunlight, it regulates light incidence, creates shaded areas, and casts a dynamic interplay of light across the volumes throughout the day. Beyond climatic protection, the pergola establishes a continuous relationship... More

The renovation of the Amcham office, carried out in its main building, continues an ongoing process of upgrading the institution’s spaces. Designed by Space Plan, the project consolidates a unified spatial identity, in dialogue with previous interventions—such as the annex building—and aligned with the organization’s culture. João Paulo Prado João Paulo Prado João Paulo Prado João Paulo Prado João Paulo Prado The starting point was the reconfiguration of a workspace that had operated for over a decade without updates. The intervention involved demolishing existing structures and defining a new layout guided by clearer circulation flows and an expanded range... More

Developed for the University of São Paulo, the Biomedical Sciences Research Center of the Ribeirão Preto Medical School arises from the revision of an existing preliminary project that did not meet the demands of scientific research. Based on a new feasibility study, carried out in direct dialogue with the users, the Biselli Katchborian office structured a program aimed at laboratories, study areas, support spaces, and a bioterium with specific operational and control requirements. The design is based on an interpretation of the campus, situated on the territory of an old farm, and references religious cloisters, reinterpreted as communal courtyards. The building is organized into three main slabs, arranged on platforms that... More

Located in São Paulo’s Pinheiros district, Dynamic Pinheiros is a corporate building within a mixed-use development combining office, residential, and retail functions. Positioned in an area with good access to public transportation and cycling infrastructure, the project addresses sustainability through mobility planning, industrialized construction methods, resource efficiency, and flexible workplace environments. The building achieved LEED v4 BD+C Core and Shell certification and incorporates measures intended to reduce construction impacts, improve operational efficiency, and support long-term adaptability. Pedro Vannucchi   Urban location and sustainable mobility The project’s location in Pinheiros form... More

Today Faria Lima is a project for Canopus Construtora, located in Vila Olímpia, São Paulo. The building has a mixed-use solution with blocks arranged side by side, and the identity of each block is clear in the differentiation of uses. The design distinguishes between uses by organizing residential and corporate areas into separate volumes with independent entrances, both accessed from the same street — Rua Quatá. The corporate block, clad in a glass skin, faces Rua Quatá, with visibility from Avenida Faria Lima — a well-known corporate hub. The corporate volume offers a total of 4,013m² of gross leasable area. The development stands as a strategically located mixed-use building, integrated into... More

Sou Perdizes is a mixed-use building integrated into the neighbourhood in the western zone of São Paulo. The area is undergoing transformation through the process of verticalization and the arrival of the Orange Line of the metro. With nearly 11,000 m² of built area, the project stands out for its volumetry, shaped by the L-shaped plot, with each block’s height aligned to that of the neighbouring buildings. Pedro Vannucchi Pedro Vannucchi Pedro Vannucchi The long-stay studios were strategically positioned on Rua Cardoso de Almeida, while the residential area stretches along Rua Bartira. The project’s layout resulted in the creation of a well-designed access area with integrated landscaping, commercial... More

Mixing uses on a single plot proves to be one of the most effective public-spirited design gestures for improving the functionality, accessibility, and safety of the surrounding area. Meet, a project that combines a commercial block with a residential one through a central plaza, adopts this concept to establish itself in the Pinheiros neighborhood, in the western zone of São Paulo. The heights of the two blocks do not differ too much in the landscape, despite the sloping lot. Caption Caption Caption The uphill terrain accommodated the residential building on the higher part, with its options for studio-type units and one- and two-bedroom apartments. The façade features materials that follow a warm palette, wi... More