The starting point for this project was the challenge of designing a contemporary, singular architecture that respects its environment.
The Aroeira house is uncompromising in its contemporary language, while employing the vocabulary and materials of traditional Brazilian architecture: tiles, lime, concrete, stone, wood and glass.
Following the contours of a steeply sloping site, the house accommodates the bedrooms and outbuildings.

The roof, in a primary gesture of protection, seems to float above the communal space, like a large hut, generously extended by the large terrace.

On the lower floors, the house’s relationship with the garden and the Atlantic forest becomes more intimate. The rooms are laid out in such a way as to be welcomed by nature, all with independent access and an outdoor space that extends them.

In response to the desire to build in an environmentally-friendly manner, the project has adopted the following measures:

• Exclusive use of certified wood, in particular with the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) label.

• Orientation to take account of sunshine and prevailing winds, so as to achieve thermal comfort without recourse to air conditioning.

• Use of prevailing winds with systematic natural cross-ventilation, combined with roof insulation.

• Thermal inertia guaranteed by the stone wall on the north façade (the sunniest), contributing to the coolness of the house.

• Solar energy for water heating.

• Use of prefabricated construction systems, reducing construction time and waste.

• Rainwater harvesting for use in the garden.

• Integration of the project with minimum impact on the existing topography.

• Landscaping project using existing floral heritage and combining it with native species, especially endangered species (aroeira, pau-brasil, etc.).

Maison Aroeira has “its head in the clouds and its feet on the ground”. It is both a perched house and a cave.