Tropical Home Eliciting Cozy Architecture in Harmony with Surroundings

ByMyProperty Life

Nestled in a picturesque setting near a tranquil lake that flows into the serene Tarumã River, in the stunning city of Manaus, Casa Tarumã was conceived based on several principles of passive sustainability, prioritizing the thermal comfort of its residents. Proper placement, ample overhangs, strategically sized and oriented openings to optimize cross ventilation, combined with the preservation of local ecological systems, lend this residence an aura of harmony with the lush nature surrounding it.

A key aspect of this architectural project is the preservation of a significant portion of the dense local forest, achieved through the strategy of embedding the main volume into a cut in the sloping terrain, reversing the conventional residential typology. With this innovative approach, the bedrooms are situated on the lower floor, while the internal living spaces, the outdoor seating area, and the pool are located on the upper floor, offering a privileged view of the lush natural surroundings.

Read another article:Design Trends for Creating a Vacation Vibe at Home

The house is divided into two distinct volumes, one elongated and the other in the form of a lookout tower, connected by delicate walkways. While the elongated volume houses spaces that require protection from the elements, such as the elegant living room, dining area, and suites, the tower-mirante volume accommodates functions that can fully enjoy sunlight, including the storage area, laundry room on the lower floor, and the pool with its lookout deck on the upper floor, providing spectacular views of the surrounding region.

A notable feature is the corten steel roof of the main volume, which features two slopes with an air circulation space at the rear, allowing a pleasant feeling of freshness between the ceiling and the cooled environments, ensuring thermal comfort on the upper floor of the residence. The addition of an inverted parapet on the side where the sun sets provides additional protection against equatorial sunlight, while preserving the privacy of the residents. The narrow width of the main volume was carefully designed to ensure efficient cross ventilation in all spaces.

Furthermore, the seamless integration between the glass-encased interior of the living room on the upper floor, the covered living areas, the serene pool, and the lush surrounding nature is highlighted, providing a unique immersion experience in tropical abundance. Casa Tarumã evokes a welcoming, inviting, and integrated architecture, inviting its inhabitants to live in perfect harmony with the tropical environment around it, offering a truly enriching residential experience connected with nature.

Read another article:Hot Trends: 20 Best Farmhouse Style Kitchens in White and Wood

CREDITS:

Project Name: Tarumã House (Casa Tarumã)
Built Area: 403.73 m²
Design: 2019-2020
Construction: 2019-2020
Project Author: Laurent Troost
Team: Laurent Troost, Raquel Brasil dos Reis, Amanda Perreira, Fernanda Martins
Structural Design: Secope Engenharia Ltda
Complementary Projects: RB Instalações Ltda
Construction: Helena Rabello, Daniel Herzson
Photo Credits: Joana França

Similar Posts

  • Cascading House

    The site has the typical challenges of many urban lots in Ho Chi Minh city: abutted by tall neighboring houses, small developable area relative to the clients’ program, and compromised access to daylighting and natural ventilation. Due to the height restriction, the house was pushed 1 level below the ground to accommodate the large program. In an effort to solve as many issues as possible, we proposed a concrete column system hidden inside the north and south concrete wall that face the neighbors, acting as the primary structure for the house and freeing up the space in-between. These concrete walls provide privacy to the clients and their family, and open up the east and west facade for views and outdoor-indoor connection. Because the column system extends continuously from the basement to the roof, the concrete beams spanning in-between can be moved vertically without any structural concerns. This flexibility also meant total discretion to determine the elevations of the upper floors–which we intended to take advantage of. By convention, the program is stacked floor-by-floor to maximize the usable area of a small lot which could result in monotonous and isolated spaces. We wanted to do just the opposite: visually and spatially connecting the different parts of the house together by splitting the floor plates, and then cascading them to create a multi-story atrium. In this space, life unfolds naturally; once a family member steps out of the bedroom, he/she will be in an all-connected “room”, and in the company of another member, whether that person is on the other side of the atrium or 2 levels above. In addition to spatial articulation, this atrium brings daylighting down to the basement, and–working with the 2 sunken gardens which are naturally filled with cool air–aids the stack effect by letting the hot air rises to the top. The temperature of the lower floors, as a result, becomes more comfortable. From the outside, Cascading House looks solid as a rock that provides sturdy shelter. The interior, however, feels as porous as a sponge soaking up natural light and air, and brings family members closer together–the qualities that make this house a home.