Residência das Cerejeiras

Cerejeira’s residence is a shelter in the mountains of the South East of Brazil in which the main focus was the integration between construction and natural environment, reducing the visual impacts that architecture can cause in relation to the surroundings. For that purpose, the priority strategy was to use natural materials such as stones, wood, as well as green roof. However, just seeing nature wouldn’t provide the desired experience; it was essential to bring it into the construction. Therefore, green spaces such as outdoor planters and indoor garden were designed through the house to increase the biophilic experience within the architecture.

The house was planned on an integrated concept to allow the connection between users and comfort. Doors that can be fully retracted were designed to provide the possibility of connecting the intimate and social area, that also allows all these rooms to have the best view of the landscape, resulting in an “L” shape floor plan.

In terms of sustainability, the project encompasses several technologies, always focusing on reducing its impact on nature. The roofs are green/living roof, which positively contributes to the thermal-acoustic insulation of the building. On top of them, there are solar panels, which capture clean energy.

The indoor garden is under a skylight that helps natural lighting to get inside the residence as well as the facade with transparent doors. In addition, the difference in height between the two blocks of the house enhances natural ventilation current, increasing the thermal comfort even more.

Cerejeira’s residence should not only be seen as a private house, but also as a synthesis and union of sustainability, biophilia, comfort and aesthetics highlighting the importance of thinking through the environment when it comes to architecture.