Casa da Embauba: how the architecture can be close to nature

Structural balance between stone, concrete and wood shows how the architecture can be close to nature, without imposing.

Embauba is the name of typical species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Its fruits are favorite food of sloths, which meant to stay popularly known as “sloth tree”.

The Casa of Embauba, authored by an architect Flavia Cancian, is one such tree of sloth that delimits the scope of the spaces, suggesting rest, leisure, resort and – dare we say – all the leisure that is merited in this world.

The representative of the species marks the boundary of the back of the house, around a pool whose streak came to a view over the bay of Ilhabela, São Paulo Brazilian coast.

The layout of boundaries, depending to trees and the forest in preservation that surrounds it, reveals its advantage architectural. Both the project and the program of use had the sole function of providing tasting natural spectacle.

Before conceptualize her idea, but she already incorporated this contemplative spirit, Flavia went up to the highest stone of the ground, and sat next to her client, to release the mind and senses in the search for an architectural bridge between them and the waves.

“We talked about the terrain on the island, and its inclination of almost 30%, with huge rocks; we located its lowest level, and from there we decided that the house could be centered on the lot, in high point, protected.”

The inclination of the street and sides of the terrain headed to the bay, down the steep topography, with many stones that should be preserved. For the lower level was chosen an entry garden. This level coincided with the height of the trees in a conservation area surrounding. The implementation has strived to ensure the constant presence of the free horizon.

For this, came on the scene the engineer Eduardo Duprat, who studied other possible efforts of structuring the idea. It has been proposed construct long containment wall for rest of the volume of the residence, which would be further supported on two reinforced concrete columns.

The foundations required surveys, detailed design and revised many times during the work, making the process more throughout the execution. “The structure was anchored in the rocks themselves,” explains the architect.

On this structural base executed as a first ground floor reinforced concrete slab. “The foundation work was to ensure the occupation of the center of the site steep and stony, minimally altering its natural irregular shape, in order not to lose the beauty of its rocks”.

But the ground floor slab would also have a pool, facing south – this extension planned to remain suspended in the balance sheet of almost four meters.

“To solve the point of equilibrium for the entire volume of the house, after the swimming pool was filled, Hello Olga developed a cumaru wood structure to be fixed over the slab, “says Flavia.

Indeed, all that is structurally and appears above the concrete slab is actually wood, both on the second floor of the house and in its own coverage.  All the wooden structure was mounted in a month. The result is a rectangular volume of large spans that, glazing, exposed the lack of walls and full integration of internal spaces. “What defines each environment in the absence of partitions, and structural modulation of the wood itself,” says the architect.

While the design produced amplitude and transparency – inside and outside of the building the house volume, in its structural function, it is counterweight to the pool in balance.

The implementation of volume suffered slight rotation of 45° northwest, fleeing the North, and meeting with the open bay. This move allowed the increased range of balconies, the design turns following the line of the sea.

According to Flavia Cancian, the balcony, besides serving as a lookout, and lick effective protection against the sun’s rays, creating thermal comfort and bright internally.

The front side facing the street were closing in cementitious panels are able to offer more privacy. The panels wrap the wooden structure and still protect it from moisture at points in which there is interface with other materials. Aluminum frames are associated with vertical blinds wood paneling – stumps on rails embedded in the floor, to integrate internal and external areas, and promote natural cross ventilation and generous on both floors.

The internal floor is cement floor of the polymer, the natural color of concrete. “Furniture of fireplace, volume of support for the kitchen appliances and countertops in gourmet area were performed during the work,” says Flavia.  Since the upper floor, intimate, has four bedrooms, living room, gazebo for relaxation and meditation, and office.  The penthouse has cementitious liner panels supported by beams Cumaru wood, OSB boards in finished externally with waterproof blanket (Akvitra).

The vertical blinds, which appear in the rooms, also marks the access doors to the house, while the northeast side of a wooden brise protects against direct incidence of sun and curiosity of the neighbors.

When the sun sets, the lighting is provided by soft spots is positioned in the ceiling and sconces. The light provides a cozy gathering of those who do not intend to impose on the environment. The idea is to enjoy it, no more than part of it.

architecture, Flavia Cancian

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