A Modern House Hidden in Brazil s Atlantic Forest Architecture by Arthur Casas
This film is a poetic and cinematic walk through one of Arthur Casas’ most emblematic residential projects: his private retreat in Iporanga, Guarujá, on the coast of São Paulo, Brazil.
Awarded “O Melhor da Arquitetura” in 2008, the house was conceived as the architect’s own sanctuary, a place to disconnect, recharge, and live in direct dialogue with the Atlantic Forest. Designed in the early 2000s, the residence remains remarkably current, revealing the enduring strength of its architectural concept.
Set within preserved Mata Atlântica vegetation and occupying less than one fifth of the plot, the 485 m² house is organized into two symmetrical volumes arranged in an L-shape, opening toward the forest. A generous 11-meter-high ceiling, continuous glass façades, and a clear structural logic dissolve the boundaries between interior and exterior, allowing nature to fully permeate the living spaces.
Concrete and certified Cumaru wood define both the interior and exterior finishes, reinforcing a sense of material continuity and warmth. Sliding glass panels, operable aluminum louvers with a corten-steel finish, and large shaded terraces regulate light, ventilation, and privacy throughout the day. The deck, also in Cumaru, carefully contours around preserved trees, leading to a pool whose green tones echo the surrounding vegetation.
The landscape design by Gil Fialho enhances the existing forest with a lush tropical garden, while a discreet lighting design by Arthur Casas himself reveals the architecture at night without overpowering the landscape. Every element was conceived to interfere as little as possible with the site, from the burned wood façade, inspired by the Japanese shou sugi ban technique, to the muted tones of exposed metal components that blend into the forest.
This film does not aim to explain the house in a didactic way. Instead, it invites the viewer to experience it slowly, through light, proportion, textures, silence, and rhythm. A cinematic journey through spaces that celebrate permanence, restraint, and the quiet coexistence between architecture and nature.
Project: Casa Iporanga
Architecture: Arthur Casas
Film: Architecture Hunter
Location: Iporanga, Brazil
Cover Image: Fernando Guerra
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