Articles by Susanna Moreira

Located in the city of Mucugê, surrounded by the Serra do Sincorá, this house gave us the privilege of designing in an exceptional environment, Chapada Diamantina, in the interior of Bahia. The lot is in front of the Santa Isabel Church, in the square of the same name. The city has an architectural complex of 2 churches, 300 single-story houses, and 10 townhouses listed by IPHAN (Institute of National Historical and Artistic Heritage), which further increased our responsibility for the concept to be adopted and other design decisions.

The project started from the demand for a house that could be built in the shortest possible time. All its modularity, finishing options and choice of structural materials are based on this premise. The option for the use of metal structure was therefore due to the available budget, the availability of raw materials in the market at the time of the project and the speed of assembly of the structure. On the other hand, other secondary items of the work, such as wooden ceilings and ground floors, were assembled and/or built by local labor. Thus, the Casa 350 project combines a predominantly prefabricated construction with small sections built in an artisanal way. 

Niko is a small Japanese restaurant, between tradition and the future. It was up to architecture to give materiality to this contradiction. On the one hand, it refers to street commerce, the lights, the signs, and the colors in contrast with the city’s concrete. On the other hand, offering dynamics through technological possibilities, projecting what this business would be like in the encounter of different times.

Located in the interior of São Paulo, a spacious garden of over 2,000 m² harmonizes with the architecture of a residence designed by Marcelo Couto Arquitetura. The landscaping, a collaboration between Couto and agronomist and landscape designer Rodrigo Oliveira, features a natural integration of a reflecting pool, swimming pool, and spa. The lush vegetation, composed of native species, softens the architectural lines and provides a feeling of warmth and connection. The garden, strategically designed for privacy, connects the social and intimate areas. Despite being only three years old, the vegetation thrives with minimal maintenance. The landscaping, which breaks the architectural rigidity, humanizes the space and brings nature inside the house.

The house is built as part of a detached housing masterplan with set parameters for maximum built area, number of storeys and offset distances to the boundary. The plot presented a difficult shape and a pronounced slope with the additional challenge of the larger garden area and the nicer views facing towards North. An existing mature pine tree next to the road marks the plot.

The house is built as part of a detached housing masterplan with set parameters for maximum built area, number of storeys and offset distances to the boundary. The plot presented a difficult shape and a pronounced slope with the additional challenge of the larger garden area and the nicer views facing towards North. An existing mature pine tree next to the road marks the plot.

The objective of the project was to transform the existing house, giving it a modern and functional style, making the most of the existing structures and walls. The proposal sought to create a residence with integrated environments, visual lightness and greater connection with the outside, maintaining the original layout of the house.

The Embaúba House is a project that represents our greatest pursuit in the last two years. Humans have ended up prioritizing their time to the maximum in a quality of life combined with the rhythm of work. In this way, the home office on many occasions has come across the countryside, coastal, and forest landscapes, where each individual has adapted to a practically introspective period, not selfish, but taking care of themselves. 

The Casa Dante program is organized in an “L” shaped floor plan. While its “internal” facades (bedrooms and living room) are mostly transparent, the facades facing the lot perimeter and the street have few openings.