Residential project in Sorriso, Mato Grosso, integrated with the Alto Teles Pires landscape

Casa Sassi, located in a residential condominium in Caxias do Sul, in Serra Gaúcha, occupies a fenced double plot, with native forest in the background. The considerable size of the lot allowed the residence to be implemented centrally, keeping it away from the side boundaries, and directing the main openings towards the natural landscape.

The architectural project is structured as a square perimeter block that integrates an internal patio. This design blends references from modern and traditional architecture, presenting them in a contemporary language. The modern influence is notable in the compositional rigor, the strong horizontality, the absence of applied ornaments, and the clear organization of the architectural components.

The traditional references, although subtle, include the internal patio, which evokes the Roman domus and functions as a welcoming atrium, adjacent to an external vestibule that guides access and precedes the social areas. Furthermore, the underground level, whose walls are clad in rustic stone, alludes to the cellars of old Italian immigrant homes, honoring the family origin of the owners linked to the city's history.

The organization of spaces follows the same intention of compositional clarity: the social areas are located in the central part of the house, connecting the arrival atrium to the spacious rear veranda, facing the forest. The private wing, composed of bedrooms, is positioned to the east, while the service area, to the west, includes the kitchen, which relates to the living rooms through a core that defines but does not isolate this space.

This distribution ensures a clear separation between the different sectors of the house without compromising the fluidity of the communal spaces or the interaction between the interior and the exterior. The arrival process avoids the immediate exposure of the door, guiding the visitor through a succession of environments to the atrium and social zones. From the rear veranda, there is a transition to the garden and the forest, while the intimate sector maintains a more reserved position.

The orientation of the primary openings towards the interior of the lot ensures the privacy of the residents without limiting the breadth of the visual connection with the surrounding scenery. This feature is particularly relevant in the social spaces, where a large skylight allows vegetation to be seen beyond the horizontal limits.

From a construction point of view, materials in their natural state were prioritized, highlighting exposed concrete on the slabs and Corten steel on the front and rear facades. Due to the low local temperatures, special attention was paid to thermal comfort, implementing double walls, insulated glazing frames, and thermal insulation in the slabs.

In Casa Sassi, the interaction with the landscape is defined less by total transparency and more by how the openings, paths, and visual frames are organized. The forest is a constant element in the main social spaces, and the arrangement of the rooms and the various levels of opening manage to preserve both the privacy and the well-being of the residents. Thus, the broad connection with the exterior does not negate the inherent limits of the dwelling, but rather contributes to establishing its domestic character.

The Casa Adentro project, developed by TETRO Arquitetura, was conceived for a plot of approximately 5,000 m² located in Lagoa Santa, near Belo Horizonte. The central challenge of the project was how to implement an extensive architectural program on a lot densely covered with trees while ensuring the maximum preservation of the established flora.

The architectural solution emerged from the analysis of the empty spaces between the trees. Instead of determining the building's shape beforehand, the team focused on mapping the available locations on the lot to understand where the architecture could be inserted. This approach resulted in the creation of a rectangular and uninterrupted circulation path that organizes most of the residence on a single level and connects all sectors of the program.

Despite being a continuous path, the circulation takes on varied natures throughout the house. In the social area, it is marked by large glass panels, maintaining a direct connection with the central patio. In the wing dedicated to bedrooms, the circulation becomes more reserved, protected by concrete walls to offer greater insulation. Near the gym and guest rooms, the path opens up again, approaching the vegetation and outdoor areas.

At the heart of the residence is the project's main open space: a large patio that houses the leisure area, the pool, water features, and some of the trees that were kept. Additionally, there are smaller voids distributed among the various environments, often defined by the arrangement of the existing trees. These patios accompany the bedrooms, the gym, the guest area, and even a bathroom, where a large tree becomes an integral part of the environment.

In this development, the importance given to what is not built is as relevant as the built area. The concept of void assumes a central role: it protects the vegetation, generates distinct levels of privacy, introduces nature into the interior spaces, and structures the relationship between the multiple parts of the house. The residence, constructed with a mixed structure of steel and concrete, is defined by this alternation between closed and open areas, making the present trees and free spaces fundamental elements of its architectural design.