A Brazilian House Hidden in the Forest | Casa Itupeva by UNA Muniz Viegas

#Architecture #Naturehouse #House

Casa Itupeva by UNA MUNIZVIEGAS

Located in Itupeva, in the countryside of São Paulo, Brazil, Casa Itupeva is a 640 m² contemporary residence designed by UNA MUNIZVIEGAS and completed in 2024. Conceived as a house that emerges from the landscape, the project establishes a dialogue between wood, concrete, water, and dense native vegetation.

Built on a steep site surrounded by forest and large natural boulders, the house is organized into two volumes. The upper pavilion, constructed with glued laminated timber, hosts the main living spaces and opens toward expansive views of the surrounding landscape. Below, a concrete base embedded into the topography contains additional bedrooms and service areas, blending with the rocky terrain.

A striking swimming pool carved into the concrete platform reflects the forest ahead, reinforcing the idea of architecture as part of the natural environment. The generous wooden roof with extended eaves and verandas improves thermal performance through a double-roof system that reduces indoor temperatures and collects rainwater.

Landscape design by Gabriella Ornaghi and Bianca Vasoni carefully integrates the house with the site, repositioning existing stones and incorporating them into the project.

This film by Architecture Hunter offers a poetic and cinematic journey through Casa Itupeva, revealing how the house quietly inhabits its landscape through light, materiality, and space.

Project: Casa Itupeva
Architecture: UNA MUNIZVIEGAS
Film by: Architecture Hunter
Location: Itupeva, Brazil
Photography: Pedro Kok and Rodrigo Fonseca