Architects: Marcos Bertoldi Arquitetos
Area: 612 m²
Year: 2022
Photographs: Eduardo Macarios
Manufacturers: 4 elementos, Ciliart, Cinex Arch, Conceito luz, Deca, Móveis maçaneiro, Npk Mármores, Spas Versati, Studio Passalacqua, kitchens
Lead Architects: Marcos Bertoldi, Felipe Chimanski
Interior Design: Marcos Bertoldi Arquitetos
Landscape: Marcos Bertoldi Arquitetos
Lighting Design: Marcos Bertoldi Arquitetos
Construction: Orpla Engenharia
Structural Design: L2 Projeto Estrutural
Electrical Design: Magnus engenharia e Arquitetura
Air Conditioning: Focus Climatização
City: Itajaí
Country: Brazil
House of Facades, by Marcos Bertoldi Arquitetos, is a 490 sq m residence in a seaside condominium designed to ensure privacy from neighboring houses. Two windowless travertine-clad walls form the side facades, while movable wooden mashrabiya screens cover the front and rear, providing shade and privacy. An open-air courtyard with a double-height ceiling brings natural light into the interiors. The ground floor includes social areas, services, and garages, the upper floor features a balcony, a studio, and three suites, and the attic houses the main bedroom with a glass pool on the garden terrace. The minimalist material palette of travertine and wood is complemented by landscaping with succulents, bamboo hedges, Podocarpus trees, and rooftop Plumeria rubra flower boxes, blending the house with its natural surroundings.
Set within a seaside condominium, the rectangular and flat 520 sq m lot is surrounded by conventional two-story houses with attics, posing significant privacy challenges for the design of this 490 sq m residence. To address this issue, the planned layout was positioned between two aerial walls, clad in travertine and supported by columns, all within the property’s legal boundaries. These windowless walls form the side facades, effectively shielding the interior spaces from the neighboring houses. The only exception is a double-height ceiling in the daily dining room, which opens the space while maintaining privacy. On the opposite side of the house, an open-air courtyard with another double-height ceiling illuminates the interior and protects the more glassed facades. For additional privacy and temperature control, the front and rear facades are wrapped with movable wooden mashrabiya screens, enhancing comfort during high temperatures.
The ground floor houses the social areas, with spaces alternating between single and double-height ceilings, along with the service areas and garages. The upper floor features an intimate balcony area positioned between voids, a studio, and three suites. The attic includes the main bedroom for the couple and a second glass swimming pool located on the garden terraces. The house’s aesthetics are defined by stone-clad walls with minimal openings, while the main openings along the east-west axis are protected by movable mashrabiya screens, creating a veiled and abstract appearance. The material palette is limited to travertine and wood, which also wraps around the attic, reinforcing the house’s minimalist and cohesive design.
The furniture selection throughout the house varies from modernist to contemporary styles, complementing the residence’s minimalist aesthetic. Landscaping is integrated into the main areas of the project, with succulent flower beds arranged alongside the steps leading to the main access plateaus. To ensure privacy for the double-height dining room window, Pandanus plants have been installed as a natural screen. Furthermore, bamboo hedges and Podocarpus trees define the perimeter of the property. On the roof, black sheet metal flower boxes of varying heights hold Plumeria rubra plants, adding a lush natural element that visually connects the house with its surroundings.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: Itajaí, Santa Catarina State, Brazil
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
