This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Residential Casa Açucena rises fifteen meters through stilts penetrated into the earth and resides within the core of a forest in Brazil Architecture studio Tetro studies the integration with nature placing their clients within the tradition of Brazilian modern architecture as a starting point before branching out to test the limits of contemporary architecture and Igor Macedo saw the steep slope not as a challenge to conquer but as a benefit to maximize the gifts of nature that surrounds the earth of the project A place immersed in lush Atlantic Rainforest nature the terrain thrives with large leafy trees and wild animals and features topography with a steep slope a characteristic of the Nova Lima region in Minas Gerais This is the place where the trio decided to insert Casa Açucena within the heart of nature to feed the residents’ thirst for sanctuary and serenity Trees and branches almost brush against the architecture The generous windows that carpet the boxy structure reflect the images of the nature outside blurring the spaces solely with the glass materials The architects paid attention to the needs of the place first and foremost before bringing it to the table to discuss with the residents they saw the need to maintain the natural characteristic and asked themselves how they could build a place with such a steep topography while retaining contact with nature They wondered how they could give its residents the daily experience of looking up and seeing the sky through the treetops they gravitated towards elevating the home fifteen meters above the ground level to induce the act of looking upwards from the ground and canopy of trees to the sky The move testifies to the architectural practice of the trio that carefully studies the premises and conditions presented by the location and the clients before amalgamating them in a way that works well with nature Images by Jomar Bragança | @jomarbraganca Padding through the space seems necessary with the abundance of light and breadth thanks as well to the tall ceiling and windows that mark the home’s construction heavy curtains block the view if necessary perhaps to cocoon the residents in the bask of privacy when necessary but they also add to the elegance and gentleness of the design residents can slide the windows to clear away any obstruction between them and the forest a lone bathtub positioned beside the windows hints at immersing the body in a well-deserved and gazing upon the sway of the trees while listening to the rustling of the foliage tone down the weight of a burden but inside Casa Açucena: hourly calls and meetings end with a sip of one’s favorite drink while the shoulders lean on the window frames staring at nature’s offering and soaking its relief. As the house curves around the scenery changes with the raised patio just outside the first block of the house The wooden floor pays homage to the raw materials of the Earth while the maximized space invites gatherings and parties within the humble abode encouraging anyone to take a dip and rise above the water to see the sheer grace of the greenery Casa Açucena defies the indulgence in the luxury of life through flashy possessions as it prides itself on the classic feel of visiting one’s vacation home outside a city Casa Açucena rises fifteen meters from the ground and lives within a forest in Brazil Its randomly placed black pillars blend in with the trunks making the house look as if it is floating a result of the home’s occupation among the trees The architecture is harmoniously inserted next to the natural vegetation but maintains its presence and surprise and novelty are values inherent to art Casa Açucena presents itself as a white flower in the midst of nature suffusing whoever steps inside with the fragrance of lust for stillness The terrain of Casa Açucena thrives with large leafy trees The dining and kitchen space of Casa Açucena the overlooking patio of Casa Açucena architect: Tetro | @tetroarquitetura contributors: Laura Georgia Rodrigues Layoun photography: Jomar Bragança | @jomarbraganca  AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Displaying a number of similarities to this modernist marvel Belo Horizonte-based firm TETRO Arquitetura has crafted a home in the Nova Lima region of Minas Gerais whose elevated structure provokes comparisons to the precedents set by Bo Bardi in order to reduce its impingement on the terrain the design team elaborates on the brief given to them: "The clients were a couple who loved art and nature and hoped to escape the city and live in a place that coexisted with the forest apart from guidelines regarding how many rooms and different spaces they would need in the house." On a steeply sloping site inundated with tree trunks that rise to provide shade by means of a thick overhead canopy the challenge was always to astutely read the context and the impediments it posed the design team noted how the eyes of observers are naturally drawn upwards along the path of the tree trunks to the slivers of open sky visible through gaps in the canopy above Considering this an essential experience of visiting the site they formulated a series of questions that would form the basis of their inquiry and subsequent response "How can you build in a place with such a steep topography while maintaining the original order of nature How can residents be given the daily experience of looking up and seeing the sky through the treetops These were the questions that guided all our design decisions," shares the firm the architects resolved that their intervention "should mould itself to the terrain This principle became the foundational basis of their design process and Casa Açucena in its fully realised form is perched on black pillars - much like Bo Bardi’s own home The pillars blend into an array of tree trunks scattered across the landscape lifting the structure above the incline of the ground Great care was taken in employing these elements so as to ensure that the topography and vegetation would not be disturbed by the intervention no trees were felled during the construction process This arrangement also negated the need for excavation and filling to soften the gradient every course of action was motivated by what the site dictated staying true to the principle established by the design team at the outset The resulting irregular plan weaves around trees at angled trajectories creating interesting viewpoints at each turn "The ground on the site was already screened from sunlight by the tree tops What we designed incorporated measures to lessen the impact of the structure and collect rainwater that could then be used to irrigate the surface beneath the house," relays TETRO Arquitetura "The most difficult part was to actually build the house without taking down any trees Special equipment and smaller tractors were required so that the machinery was able to enter the forest without damaging it." skewed volumes jut out from the two main arms of the first floor - with the western wing leading towards the pool and deck as the eastern one accommodates most other functional areas which lead into verandahs and terraces that connect internal spaces to the forest At the centre of the program, the outdoor deck branches off to an open plan living space towards the east, featuring a kitchen, lounge, and dining area. Full-height glazing here furnishes views of the nearby landscape, with an interior design scheme focused on a palette of wood and exposed concrete This space is also directly in the line of sight of the pool seeming to levitate above the terrain as if frozen in time a hallway leads to a secondary bedroom and the large master suite equipped with a walk-in closet the cuboidal volume of the master suite has panoramic views of its verdant surroundings through large glass openings that echo those used in Casa de Vidro In addition to the glass walls that dress a number of the home's faces, the residence’s design also integrates a number of skylights that permit daylight to flood in from above The architects note: "The main attractions which allow you to look up and contemplate the treetops preserving this action that would have been natural to anyone entering the site before the house was built It was an interesting exercise to find the right angles and the viewing points and we are very happy with what came about with these elements.” The team at TETRO Arquitetura concludes: "Surprise and novelty are values inherent to art and Casa Açucena presents itself as a white flower in the midst of nature." Jerry's work as a writer is fuelled by an innate desire to ascertain the driving forces behind exemplary architecture and design he directs this interest towards crafting riveting narratives that attempt to capture the essence of creative endeavours from all over the world From vernacular knowledge to modern sustainability Middle Eastern pavilions serve as living archives of architectural thought offering fresh frameworks for global adoption STIR engages with the curators of the Togo Oman and Qatar pavilions—debuting at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025—on representation the book presents a fictional story depicting algorithms exercising control over humans and how this affects the built environment Tipnis shares how the toolbox democratises the practice of restoration via DIY resources to repair tangible urban heritage made of common building materials Exclusive preview for subscribers. Learn More Make your fridays matter. Learn More © Copyright 2019-2025 STIR Design Private Limited Please confirm your email address and we’ll send you a link to reset your password All your bookmarks will be available across all your devices Password must be 8 characters long including one capital letter By creating an account, you acknowledge and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy by STIR Select the Conversation Category you would like to watch Please enter your details and click submit Single account access for STIRworld.com,STIRpad.com and exclusive STIRfri content Verification link sent to check your inbox or spam folder to complete sign up process by Jerry Elengical | Published on : Aug 10 Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors The house blends into the surrounding forest The house is designed around existing trees The structure is supported on black steel columns The principal bedroom looks out into the canopy Living areas blend internal and external spaces The bridge leading to the bedrooms on the main floor Tetro architects have created an idiosyncratic treetop house in the forests of Nova Lima a modern retreat raised up high above the forest floor Threading its way through a lush rainforest site the treetop house Casa Açucena is a spectacular example of architecture integrated with nature The new house was designed by Belo-Horizonte-based practice Tetro Set on a steeply sloping site in the Nova Lima region in the Southeastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais Casa Açucena is woven into the forest.  Casa Açucena is raised up on slender pilotis that march down the hillside carefully interspersed between existing trees and shrubs The architects describe the project as ‘a response to a sensitive reading of the terrain.’  weaving between the larger trees on the site with rooms set at angles to maximise the best views across the forest canopy a carport and auxiliary structure lead down to secondary accommodation on the main level below opening out onto a large deck leading across to the main body of the house.  Sliding glass doors lead straight onto an open plan living room with existing trees weave into the architecture at the edge of the room A study ‘bridge’ leads across to two bedrooms while an additional bedroom and study room are located on the lowest level accessed via an orange steel spiral staircase.  The main deck also incorporates a lozenge-shaped pool raised high above the treetops and affording a look back on the snaking main body of the house creating an illusion of a floating structure weaving through the canopy A green roof helps camouflage the structure from above while faceted rooflights are located above the major living spaces to add height and bring in sunlight.  The architects describe this juxtaposition as if the house were a ‘white flower in the midst of nature,’ and design decisions like the apparently random scattering of columns add to the organic feel.  ‘Our initial understanding was that the architecture should mould itself to the terrain and not the other way around,’ the architects say ‘the program shapes itself as a harmonious balance of art and nature occupying the empty spaces between the trees without removing any or altering the topography.’ escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox Tetro.com.br Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999 covering everything from architecture and transport design to books He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.