Elevated House
This refuge is located on the same land as the Henrique Cunha house. To minimize the earthworks and avoid humidity from the soil, the shelter is raised over two T-shaped concrete structures on top of which lays a very light framework.
Photography by © Federico Cairoli
We tried experimenting with different ways of building floors on elevated structures, using prefabricated concrete slabs on the balconies and structural plywood boxes inside the house.
The V-shaped roof structure consists of an I-beam lying sideways along the center of the house, supporting a set of flat bar rafters.
Photography by © Federico Cairoli
The north and south glass facades open up to a natural terrain covered with wild vegetation, virtually expanding the environments towards the greenery. You can hear the rain. You can see the sun rising behind the mountain. You can feel the wind. You can sleep on darker nights with no moon. Time goes by.
Photography by © Federico Cairoli
Project Info:
Architects: Venta Arquitetos
Location: PETRÓPOLIS, BRAZIL
Area: 60 m²
Project Year: 2017
Photographs: Federico Cairoli
Manufacturers: AutoDesk, Sika, Lafarge Holcim, Amanco, Aços mil, Fabrimar, Gerdau, Tigre
Isabelle Laurent is a Built Projects Editor at Arch2O, recognized for her editorial insight and passion for contemporary architecture. She holds a Master’s in Architectural Theory from École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-Belleville. Before joining Arch2O in 2016, she worked in a Paris-based architectural office and taught as a faculty adjunct at the École Spéciale d’Architecture in Paris. Isabelle focuses on curating projects around sustainability, adaptive reuse, and urban resilience. With a background in design and communication, she brings clarity to complex ideas and plays a key role in shaping Arch2O’s editorial