A kitchen is one of the hardest-working spaces in a home. It must withstand daily wear, changing routines, evolving technologies, and shifting lifestyle needs while remaining visually coherent within the larger architectural narrative. While every project has its own requirements, experienced designers often return to a similar set of considerations when evaluating a kitchen. Here […]
Castanheiras House: Organizing Housing Around the Needs of Nature
Castanheiras House, built in the forests of Nova Lima in Brazil, provides its residents with a tranquil abode smack dab in the middle of nature. The careful design of architects Mateus Castilho and Patricia Bueno integrates with its environment well.
Its location was chosen to be close to the city of Belo Horizonte, the sixth-biggest city in Brazil, without the need to leave nature behind. They built it to be close to, among other locations, the Mata do Jambreiro Private Natural Heritage Reserve.
Its construction came with many challenges, stemming mostly from government regulations in the area. The desire to leave nature undisturbed also meant that the construction needed to be careful in terms of how it worked with the environment.
Careful Planning and Design
Castanheiras House was built on a sloping plot of land. It’s a single-story home, with three bedrooms and an open-floor plan for the living room, dining area, and kitchen. This was done due to legal restrictions demanding the preservation of the trees in the land that reduced the size of the house.
The architects used a mix of wood and concrete for the project. Prefabricated wooden structures were used in the construction of the abode. The floors of the home also used “a prefabricated system of reinforced concrete with polystyrene panel filling.”
To ensure the stability of other areas of the home, they applied reinforced concrete and block masonry sealing for wet areas and the water tank. This allowed them to reduce the amount of waste products to come out of the construction of the project, and lessened the potential impact on the environment that the building had.
Its outer facade combines floor-to-ceiling glass panels, and a combination of wood pillars and pigmented concrete board. They also used wood panels for the ceiling. The blend is such that the wood stands out brightly in the forest without clashing with the trees in the area.
Cozy Dwelling Near the City
Castanheiras House’s communal spaces benefit from an open-floor plan that gives its residents a clear pathway from the veranda to the living and dining rooms. The sliding glass doors expand the space towards the veranda and forests outside.
They decked out the kitchen with modern amenities, including a marble cooking island with four burners on the countertop. The open layout allows the glass dining table to sit side-by-side with the kitchen island and living room sofas, creating a harmonious, barrier-free space.
The sofas, designed with a central backrest, allow for more space and an ability to shift attention depending on where the activity is. The architects designed the open-floor plan in such a way that these different points are all oriented towards the TV.
The veranda embraces the cozy charm of the forests around them. Wooden railings encircle the small area, while an unpolished wood table and benches further enhance the natural aesthetic. This design immerses residents in nature while retaining the comforts of modern living.
Castanheiras House finds the middle ground of modern-day amenities and a nature-centric lifestyle. This residence in Brazil provides its resident family comfort and security, while keeping intact the trees and woodland surrounding the home.
Related reading: NICE Headquarters Brazil: Pivoting Towards Nature-Friendly Solutions
The modern kitchen has evolved beyond its traditional role as a place for preparing meals. It is the heart of the home – a space where daily rituals unfold, conversations linger and the rhythm of everyday life takes shape. As open-plan living continues to redefine residential design, the kitchen is no longer a separate room, […]
Likhang Filipino stands on the former site of the PhilTrade Center along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, a landmark that once symbolized the Philippines’ export ambitions and introduced Filipino craftsmanship to international audiences. Originally inaugurated in 1979, the PhilTrade Center was conceived as a national showcase for Philippine exports, with its longitudinal form and sloping […]
Presented during Milano Design Week 2026 at Palazzo Gallarati Scotti, Poltrona Frau’s flagship store in Milan, the “True Over Time” Collection celebrates one of the brand’s most enduring values: authenticity. More than a matter of craftsmanship or material quality, durability is understood as a design’s ability to preserve its meaning over time, remaining relevant across […]
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