This rural Brazilian retreat, set in leafy Upstate São Paulo makes the most of its favourable position on high ground to look out to the region's green rolling hills. Titled MJE House and designed by Jacobsen Arquitetura, one of Brazil's most established names in the field, the project was conceived as a holiday home for a family of urbanites seeking a countryside escape. Drawing on the country's strong modernist architecture roots and sprinkling on some 21st century flair and technology, and the result offers just that – the perfect contemporary getaway.
MJE House: inside the rural Brazilian retreat
MJE House is organised in two volumes, placed on top of each other at a right angle, in order to make the most of views and light. At the same time, the simple, long and low, loosely rectangular shapes keep the building close to the ground, while taking their cues from the surrounding landscape. A long, stone wall runs across the length of the lower volume, anchoring the project to the ground, offering a touch of nature and texture.
On the upper level, a similar effect is offered by a series of freijó wood panels which act as privacy screens and shading for the bedroom areas, which are located in the top volume. This level is also the one that juts out in a cantilever over the landscape, creating a viewing platform for its users and framing vistas from the bedrooms. All the joinery and interiors were designed and implemented by Jacobsen Arquitectura, conceived after long discussions and a fruitful collaboration with the clients.
As often displayed in the region's residential architecture, the design provides a strong connection between indoors and outdoors. The ground floor living space, a flowing, open-plan interior composed of various lounge arrangements, spills out effortlessly to a paved garden where additional seating and dining options are spread out. A swimming pool on one of the terraces adds to the residents' options for leisure and entertainment.
The home's main entrance, situated at the intersection of the two horizontal blocks, features a sculptural, white, spiral staircase. It ensures that stepping inside offers drama and a sense of arrival befitting this rural Brazilian retreat's 21st century architecture.
-
Ama Bar, in Vancouver, is sexy and a little disorientingAma Bar features ‘Blade Runner 2049’-inspired interiors by &Daughters
-
Kembra Pfahler revisits ‘The Manual of Action’ for CIRCAArtist Kembra Pfahler will lead a series of classes in person and online, with a short film streamed from Piccadilly Circus in London, as well as in Berlin, Milan and Seoul, over three months until 30 June 2024
-
Monospinal is a Japanese gaming company’s HQ inspired by its product’s worldA Japanese design studio fulfils its quest to take Monospinal, the Tokyo HQ of a video game developer, to the next level
-
Marcio Kogan’s Studio MK27 celebrated in this new monograph from Rizzoli‘The Architecture of Studio MK27. Lights, camera, action’ is a richly illustrated journey through the evolution of this famed Brazilian architecture studio
-
Modernist architecture: inspiration from across the globeModernist architecture has had a tremendous influence on today’s built environment, making these midcentury marvels some of the most closely studied 20th-century buildings; check back soon for new additions to our list
-
Brazil’s Casa Subtração contrasts dramatic concrete brutalism with opennessCasa Subtração by FGMF is defined by brutalist concrete and sharp angles that contrast with the green Brazilian landscape
-
Arthur Casas’ Pacaembu House wins Best Urban Bolthole in Wallpaper* Design Awards 2024Pacaembu House by Arthur Casas is a São Paulo residence that feels like an idyllic escape
-
This Brazilian house uses concrete and wood to screen a sleek horizontal living spaceThe Brazilian house in Minas Gerais by Tetro Arquitetura is designed to elevate and simplify the art of one-level living
-
Mario Cucinella's Nice headquarters in Brazil offers a bioclimatic take on industrial architectureComprising a manufacturing base and R&D Centre, the Nice headquarters in Brazil by Mario Cucinella Architects hail a new era for the company
-
Minimalist architecture: homes that inspire calmThese examples of minimalist architecture place life in the foreground – clutter is demoted; joy promoted
-
Casa Boa Vista is a Brazilian home that opens up to its natural viewsCasa Boa Vista by Arthur Casas makes the most of transparencies and natural materials to highlight views and nature in Upstate São Paulo
