Project: Irina Bruscky
Surface: 800m2

Located near the “Lençois do Maranhao” natural park in northern Brazil, between the equatorial forest and the sea, this charming hotel project is a tribute to local architecture: the “palafitas”. Located in a seaside plot, the architecture is put to the test by the winds and dunes, which are constantly shifting, diverting the watercourses of the nearby delta.

The answer to such a context came from observing the houses on stilts, on the banks of the Preguiça river which must be crossed to reach Atins.

All made of wood, these fragile-looking houses are the most appropriate response to the natural context. Traditional “palafitas” can be set up in flood-prone areas, resisting flooding and easily dismantled. With eco-responsible architecture as its objective, this project is set up with minimum impact on the land, using local resources, and with a concern for saving materials that are difficult to transport.

Measures such as rainwater harvesting for the garden, the use of certified wood, the use of prevailing winds for cooling, insulated straw roofing, and the permeability of the natural soil throughout the site, all contribute to reducing the impact of this project on its natural environment.

The poetry that emanates from it lies in its frugality, without renouncing comfort.